Rugged Rocks &amp; Rugged Routes provides off-road parts, maps communication equipment, and GPS accessories and high resolution maps compatible with Lowrance GPS units for Overlanders and Off-Road enthusiasts everywhere. &nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp; Please give us a rating and review&nbsp; &nbsp; Show Notes Rugged Rocks &amp; Rugged Routes provides off-road parts, maps communication equipment, and GPS accessories and high resolution maps compatible with Lowrance GPS units for Overlanders and Off-Road enthusiasts everywhere.    Eagle Scout                  &nbsp; 00:06:42 - 00:06:57 Inspiration for Rugged Rocks 00:25:52 - 00:26:22 Daily Routines&nbsp; 00:24:29 - 00:24:46 Advice

Overlanding, Off-Road Gear, Mapping &amp; more with Steven of Rugged Routes [EP 272]

Episode 294 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Jack Wolfskin US General Manager Diana Seung. We talk about how Diana got into the Outdoor Biz, how a sociocultural anthropology major gets into retail, merchandising, and eCommerce, and plenty more. &nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp; Please give us a rating and review&nbsp;  Show Notes    Show Notes How were you introduced to the outdoors? A very unexpected call from a recruiter. So I had a recruiter call me and say, I have this amazing opportunity with backcountry.com. And I misheard her as like bat country like a bat. I was like, what's ? I've never even heard of this company. She's oh, they're in Utah. I'm like, oh, no way in hell. I was living in New York City at the time. And I'm like, there's no way I'm going to Utah of all places, I'm a city girl, lived in New York City, San Francisco, like through and through. She's why don't you just talk to them? Just have a conversation more informal. Yeah, just learn about them. I'm like, I'll be, open-minded, I'll speak to them. So I have a call with them. And at that point, we realized it's backcountry. Not bat country, backcountry was a new term for me too. That's how foreign the outdoor world was. &nbsp;So finally put two and two together and had a conversation. Crazy enough, I actually had a personal trip planned to go out to park city. A girlfriend of mine had just moved out here and I was coming out to visit her. So I'd mentioned to them, it's so funny that I'm getting this call and I'm speaking to you all cause park, city's never been on my radar. And my girlfriend just moved out there. I'm headed out there in three weeks to visit her. And they're like when you're in town, why don't you just swing in, check out the offices, get to know us. We'll tell you a little bit more about the opportunity. I said sure, why not that quickly transpired into being an all-day long, six-person interview back to back with a presentation. And then before I knew it, I was flying out here again several weeks later for another interview and got the offer and I thought, gosh, do I really want to move out to Utah and do something totally different in the outdoor industry? At that point, I'd spent seven years in Children's Wear prior to that I was in fashion and I thought, heck, why not? Let's try something different. This could be a really cool experience. And so I packed my bag and moved out here and I thought to myself if I hate it I can move back. But I might like it and five years later I'm still here. How does a sociocultural anthropology major get into retail, merchandising, and e-commerce? So college for me was about getting exposure to things that I probably never have the opportunity to learn again. So I took that opportunity just to take courses that were interesting. I was like, let me just have some fun here. So I majored in socio-cultural anthropology, which is definitely a mouthful. It's the study of cultures and more indigenous cultures and communities around the world. And then from there, I also did a minor in Africana studies cause , which is where I went had an amazing Africana studies program and center. Then I did a concentration in Asian American studies. So for me, it was like, let me learn about people and cultures and ethnicities and human behavior. And that was interesting. And I thought to myself if I don't do it in college, I probably won't get the opportunity to learn it elsewhere. So I did just that and always had the intent of going probably somewhere in the retail route and grew up with that. My father was a small business owner, he had his own small retail shops, jewelry business for a long time. So growing up I would hop in the van with him up to New York and the jewelry, wholesale district. So learned it very grassroots from him. How did you get connected with Jack Wolfskin? I left Backcountry and at that point, I was searching for a new role, and crazy enough, I was on a family vacation and an old colleague,  he's the...

A unique entrance into the Outdoor Industry with Diana Seung, Jack Wolfskin USA GM [EP 294]

Are you hungry for adventure and connection? Episode 372 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast features former pro snowboarder and Saturday's co-founder . As host of  recently launched series , Josh shares how the show reconnects and inspires viewers to explore the world of adventure, the outdoors, and cooking in the wild, their backyards, and homes. It is currently streaming on  and . &nbsp;  Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;.&nbsp; I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email:&nbsp; or leave me a message on&nbsp;! &nbsp; Presented to by: &nbsp;  Show Notes:  How'd you get connected with Huckberry? Yeah, it's been a really lovely, Experience with . Initially, we worked on a project where, Kate West, who's the content director over at Huckberry, reached out to me cuz she had been in New York when I was there and worked for a nonprofit, bringing kids out. To the beach to surf and up into the mountains to snowboard from the inner city, which was really cool. And we helped out with that and, in any capacity we could, at . And she had moved on and started working in Huckberry and asked if I was interested in doing, it's, they sell a really amazing, product called the, . Oh yeah. Which is this, it's. All the bells and whistles, antimicrobials, sweat, wicking, all that great stuff. But you're gonna essentially wear it and do anything you want for a couple of days, without a wash. So it's a great shirt to camp with and literally anything you're getting into. So before we get to the show, tell us about your cooking chat. Yeah, sure. Is that why you're there? it's interesting because the show always starts with meeting a chef, okay? And the chef always asks or has, so far, are you a chef? Okay. And my answer and the first time I was asked that my response was, No. I'm just a cooking enthusiast. I'm a food enthusiast. So how did the idea for dirt come to life? So Kate West came to Seattle to do this article for Huckberry with me about wearing the shirt. And we went out for 72 hours. It's the 72-hour shirt. And so that's the deal. It's like a, what can you do with this shirt in 72 hours? And I loved that task because I have always love to see how many activities I can accomplish in a day, so they came out and we went out to one of the San Juan Islands, which is our little chain of islands out here in the sound, beautiful spot. And it's a special place for sure. . , absolutely gorgeous. And we just, we went nuts. We did, the list is long, but we had these amazing couple of days, and somewhere in, in that time I posed to Kate that I had this idea for a food adventure show where essentially we do what we do on dirt, which is that we go to a place we meet with a chef, or the initial idea could also have been like a, somebody who's very connected to food in that city. And we got some information and that kind of set us off on our journey. How is this show different than other adventure travel shows? I think it's interesting. It's like until you work in a, you don't really look at that space that deeply, and after working in this space over the last year and l going around and looking at other adventured shows or on, things like YouTube catching cooks or food, food adventure pieces. It just feels. A lot of those shows and, nothing against them. There are some really great ones out there. We're really about the chef or the host. So what goes into deciding where to go? Is it driven by the food sources, the sustainability? It's a great question and I think we started in Seattle with no real distinct plan of where we were gonna go next because it was the trial episode and it was I think it was meeting with the people around, in that first episode in Seattle or at Washington State that we realized we can go anywhere. It was really liberating, right? Because initially maybe you gotta go to these really important big cities or, it was, we, there was a lot of discussions, but really it's we...

Explore the World of Adventure, The Outdoors and Cooking in the Wild with Josh Rosen and Huckberry [EP 372]

Welcome back to the outdoor biz podcast. You are in for a treat today. Episode 374 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast features my conversation with Yoon Kim and Lucie Hanes from Outdoor Media Summit. If you’re not familiar with the Outdoor Media Summit we’re going to fix that. An annual event where the folks on the media side of the outdoor biz get together to network, connect with brands, participate in educational workshops and more helping move the industry forward. &nbsp;  Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;. I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email:&nbsp; or leave me a message on&nbsp;! Presented to by :  Show Notes Let's begin with a little bit about you. Lucy, How did you get into the outdoor lifestyle? I was lucky enough to have a very outdoorsy dad who took me on my first hike when I was less than a year old. I mean, obviously, I was not hiking, but I was nice and toasty on his back. So I grew up hiking, and backpacking and then got into whitewater kayaking through passengers adventure camp in Richmond, Virginia. I think I started kayaking then. So that was kind of my first introduction to adventure outdoor sports. Yoon, how about you? I think when I was in college. I had a roommate who was really into the outdoors. I wasn't really into it, but he kind of made it a point to bring me into his sports, which were climbing and mountain biking at the time. And I never really, it's like, for me at first it was just kind of, something that people like me didn't really do. But he, he was pretty insistent about climbing with him on Wednesdays. Marty Combs was the roommate. So you guys are both now involved with the Outdoor Media Summit. For listeners who might not be familiar, tell us about the Outdoor Media Summit. How did it start? Who attends? What kind of things goes on? The content? Lucy, you wanna take a crack at it? Let's start with how it started. How did it start? Yoon- Well I can tell you how it started. So back in the day there, there still is, there's a conference called Shift, which is for land managers and it's mostly for land managers and conservation agencies in Jackson Hole.  reached out to me and said we wanna bring some media to shift. This is back in 2013 when he reached out to me, the first show I believe, and he said, Hey, we wanna bring media to this conference. How do we do it? You and I have heard a lot of people in media and you're doing a lot of freelance writing and know a lot of editors. So I was like well, have a gathering for media people and, do a separate conference at the same time. It's your conference. He like he, we got some money for some money and you pull together some media folks. And I just wasn't interested. I was doing some other stuff. Then he talked to me a few times and I was like, sure, why not? We'll try it. And so that was the first blogger summit at the time, it was a gathering of like 30 bloggers and that was the first Outdoor Media Summit. And where was it? In Jacksonville. And who at it were bloggers to start with now who attends now? It's pretty much all media from all walks of life related to the outdoors, right? Writers, bloggers, photographers. There's print media and digital media. But we like to focus on, print folks, editors, freelancers, as well as podcasters, bloggers, and Instagrammers. We try to get, the whole spectrum of, of media. It's not just, it's not just words and audio. It can be video, it can be a short form, it can be long form. We're trying to expand the definition of what media really counts as. And what about the content? Tell our listeners about the content you guys provide at the summit. It's, it's great content, by the way. So our kind of philosophy on how we deliver content is at two levels. There's the keynote level and the breakout session-level. The keynote level is a bigger picture, higher level. This is where we're gonna have advocacy themes and like the industry hoorah...

Outdoor Media Summit, The New Gathering Place where The Outdoor Industry Comes Together, with Yoon Kim and Lucie Hanes. [EP 374]

Today on episode 475, I'm talking with Photographer and Writer Colleen Miniuk. Colleen has recently finished her adventure memoir, “So Said the River.” Her first appearance on the show was in Oct 23 on episode 239. Show Notes  Beyond Hurricane Helene:  Fuel Goods' Journey to Reconnect and Rebuild   How to Stand Out as a Photographer by Being YOU Hey . . .&nbsp; 🎣 Hook: Think successful photography is all about mastering the technical side? Think again! &nbsp;&nbsp;  The Old Way vs. The Right Way For too long, photographers have been caught up in the technical side of the craft—perfect lighting, flawless settings, the latest gear. But guess what? That’s not what makes photos memorable. So often, photographers chase after “iconic” scenes they’ve seen before, trying to replicate what’s already out there. This approach can leave you frustrated, exhausted, and unfulfilled because…  You lose the uniqueness of your voice — it gets buried under what everyone else is doing. Your photos start to feel flat—sure, they’re technically “perfect,” but something’s missing. The creative joy fades as you chase perfection over authentic expression.  Colleen and I get it, though. It’s easy to feel like you’re just one in a crowd. You may even feel like your voice doesn’t matter because of all the “rules” out there.  Why This Episode Is Just for You In this episode, Colleen opens up about her journey from technical perfectionist to true artist. And her number-one piece of advice? “Be you.” Dive into what it means to find your voice and create work that feels truly personal and fulfilling. Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll learn:  How to see the world through your unique lens – Learn why chasing iconic shots actually limits you, and how to break free from the pressure to fit into a “photographer” mold. Creating meaning over meeting expectations – Colleen shares how she discovered her true purpose by following her own values instead of traditional definitions of “success.” Letting go of “perfect” – Tips on shifting from technical perfectionism to creating work that’s truly resonant and meaningful for you.   Why Being You Works Better When you create from your own experiences and unique perspective, you:  Connect deeply with your audience—People can tell when work is personal and authentic. Feel more fulfilled—Every shot becomes a story, not just a technical exercise. Stand out naturally—Your work is distinct because it’s you. No one else has your story or your way of seeing the world.  Last Thought to Take With You The world has plenty of perfectly captured, “ideal” shots. What it needs is your unique vision. Start embracing the weird, wild, and wonderful perspectives you bring—because that’s what will truly set you apart. &nbsp;       Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast &nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;  Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;  I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;

Colleen Miniuk on Personal Growth and Women's Outdoor Adventure Photo Workshops [EP 475]

This episode is part of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I are talking about how to prepare your vehicle for long road trips, including necessary maintenance, storage solutions, organization, and what anglers need to know about where to get licenses and permits and up to date fishing information. Today, we’re talking about road trips—specifically planning the perfect road trip for camping and fishing. We’ll cover how to map out the best route, pack for every scenario, and ensure you have all the right gear, so you’re set for anything the road and the river throw your way. Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes   &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp;

EP 476 Ricks Riffs-Vehicle Prep, Fishing Licenses and Permits

describes himself as a rider, angler, hunter, and sentimentalist who lives in the Catskill Mountains, where he draws water and hues wood while pondering things big and small. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp; Brought to you this week by  Show Notes Question: What if you could live the outdoor lifestyle you dream about—and actually make it your life? Promise: Discover how one writer-angler-hunter turned his passion for the outdoors into a lifestyle that spans seasons, continents, and meaningful connections. The old way? Believing the outdoors is just a weekend escape. The new way? Letting it shape your story.  Ever felt stuck, dreaming about a life of adventure but weighed down by daily responsibilities and not knowing where to start? You’ve probably:  Struggled to make time for real outdoor experiences. Felt intimidated by the idea of pursuing adventure professionally. Thought it was too late to reconnect with nature the way you did as a kid.  What that costs you:  You miss out on moments that connect you to the wilderness—and to yourself. You lose opportunities to inspire others or share stories that matter. Worst of all, the longer you wait, the more disconnected you feel from the adventure you crave.  I get it—life pulls us in every direction. Between work, family, and modern distractions, it feels impossible to press pause and find your path back to nature. But it’s not your fault—society makes adventure seem like something we outgrow. The truth? It’s still waiting for you. That’s why this episode is a must-listen. David Mcllvaney shares how he turned his outdoor passions into a life of meaning, adventure, and stories worth telling.  Think of this episode as your personal roadmap to embracing the outdoors in ways you never thought possible. David’s story is proof: you don’t need to be a wilderness survival expert to live closer to nature. It’s about connection—whether you’re fly-fishing in Iceland, writing about Patagonia, or sitting by a campfire in your backyard. It reminded me of that moment as a kid when you’d run wild through the woods, build forts, and poke at “dead stuff” with a stick. Adventure was instinctual. This episode will help you rediscover that feeling—and keep it.  Here’s what you’ll learn:  How to turn your passions into meaningful stories. David started by writing about his fly-fishing adventures—and sold every single one of his first stories. How to embrace the outdoors fully. From shedding the "layers" of daily life to truly connecting with your surroundings, David shares tips that make every trip unforgettable. How to create opportunities for yourself. Whether it’s freelancing, connecting with editors, or repurposing content, David’s journey is full of actionable advice.   Benefits  Reconnect deeply with nature. Whether it’s a weekend escape or a life shift, you’ll feel the joy of being part of the wilderness. Build stories worth sharing. Use David’s advice to start documenting your adventures—and maybe even see your name in print. Live the life you’ve dreamed of. Turn your outdoor hobbies into a lifestyle that inspires and sustains you.   We'll leave you with this: Life’s greatest adventures aren’t just about the places you visit—they’re about how they change you. Don’t wait for permission to live your outdoor story. Start now. &nbsp;

Unraveling the Nuances of Writing and Outdoor Adventure Exploration with David Mcllvaney [EP 477]

In this episode of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I discuss maximizing your Outdoor Adventure—things like setting up the perfect campsite, having a good view, cooking outdoors, and more.&nbsp;Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes   &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp;

EP 478 Ricks Riffs-Maximize your Outdoor Adventure

Today, on episode 479, I'm talking with Tim and Matt Ozerkov from Oz Lodge. Tim and Matt, along with Matt's wife, Heather, and their son, Jed, purchased property in Seward, Alaska, and have literally developed Oz Lodge from the ground up. Show Notes &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp; Brought to you this week by&nbsp; Follow up with Oz Lodge:   What Happened: When I was a kid, I dreamed of flying a bush plane to a little cabin perched on a lake in Alaska. Picture it: a rugged, untouched landscape, floatplanes bobbing on the dock, and a life that felt more adventure than routine. Fast forward to adulthood, and one day, after a series of serendipitous events (starting with a chat over coffee in a ski lodge), I got the chance to visit Alaska for a construction project. It was supposed to be a short gig. Instead, it became the start of an obsession. From the moment we flew in and saw bears with their cubs crossing the road, we were hooked. The wildlife, the raw beauty, the sheer wildness—it felt like stepping into a nature documentary. By the time we left, we couldn’t shake the dream. My brother Matt, his wife Heather, and I decided it wasn’t enough to just visit Alaska. We had to live it. And not just live it—but build something with our own hands. So, we bought 7 acres in Seward. One problem? There wasn’t a lumber store in sight. What started as a plan to buy materials turned into us milling our own wood, snapping saw blades left and right, and learning by trial, error, and a little bit of YouTube. The result? Oz Lodge—a place where we share our passion for Alaska with anyone adventurous enough to visit.  Principle: The truth is, the things that mean the most in life are never easy. Whether it’s building a lodge from scratch or chasing a dream that feels way out of reach, you’ve got to love it enough to push through the long days, unexpected roadblocks, and snapped saw blades. Passion fuels progress, and that’s what makes it all worth it.  Transition: For anyone out there with a wild dream—whether it’s starting a family business, building something from the ground up, or just chasing the next big adventure—there’s one thing holding you back: the belief that the timing, resources, or circumstances need to be perfect. Spoiler alert: they never will be.  That’s Why: That’s why we wanted to share this story on the podcast. Because if a couple of dreamers covered in sawdust can carve a life (and a road!) out of a cliffside in Alaska, you can tackle the thing that’s been tugging at your heart too. And maybe our journey will give you the nudge you’ve been waiting for.  Call to Action: If you’ve ever felt like the leap is too big, the obstacles too steep, or the dream too wild—this episode is for you. Join us as we share how we turned a crazy idea into a life-changing reality. Listen now and start chasing what sets your soul on fire. Book YOur Oz Lodge Adventure here:&nbsp;

The Adventure Began With a Bush Plane and Ended With Fresh-Baked Cookies in the Wild [EP 479]

In this episode of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I discuss Fly Fishing—things like techniques, hatches, locations, conservation, and more.&nbsp;Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes          Visit the local Fly Shop, Forest Service or BLM &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp;

EP 480 Ricks Riffs Fly Fishing: Techniques and more

Today, on episode 481 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I’m talking Adventure Travel Gear, Trends, and more with Eagle Creek CEO Travis Campbell Show Notes &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp; Brought to you this week by&nbsp; &nbsp; Why Eagle Creek’s Comeback Is the Ultimate Adventure Story  Hook: “How an Undervalued Icon Made the Adventure Gear Comeback of the Decade”  What Happened: I still remember my first  backpack. I’d just scraped together enough money from a summer job and felt like I’d made it. That bag saw every trip, every mishap, and every ‘adventure’ (some more “oops” than wow). So, when I heard Eagle Creek was on the brink of being shut down, my heart sank. Enter . In a world where big brands often lose touch with their roots, Travis—an outdoor enthusiast turned CEO—made a bold move. He stepped in, took the reins, and brought Eagle Creek back to life. Why? Because, like me, he understood what Eagle Creek means to adventure lovers: gear that doesn’t just last but travels with purpose.  Principle: Here’s the thing: in the world of adventure travel, there’s no room for compromises. Whether it’s a zipper that breaks mid-trip or gear that fails when you need it most, adventurers need brands that understand the stakes. And that’s what makes Eagle Creek’s story so inspiring. Travis didn’t just rescue a brand; he reignited its soul—crafting durable, sustainable, adventure-first gear that lives up to its legacy.  Transition: But here’s the catch: in today’s saturated travel gear market, finding gear that’s both reliable and sustainable feels harder than ever. Most travelers are stuck buying one-size-fits-all products that aren’t made to withstand the rigors of real adventure.  That’s Why: That’s why this episode of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast is a must-listen. Travis shares how Eagle Creek is reimagining travel gear with sustainability, repairability, and adventure at the forefront. It’s not just a comeback story; it’s a masterclass in how brands can honor their roots while evolving for the future.  Call to Action: Struggling to find gear that can keep up with your adventures? Listen to this episode to discover how Eagle Creek’s transformation is setting a new standard for adventure travel gear. Don’t let the wrong gear ruin your next adventure—!

How Adventure Travel Shapes Eagle Creek's Direction: Insights from CEO Travis Campbell [EP 481]

In our final episode of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I discuss planning the perfect road trip for camping and fishing Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes  with Emanuel Rose          &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

EP 482 Ricks Riffs: Road Trips

This week on episode 483 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I'm talking with Anietra Hamper. Anietra Hamper is a trusted journalist having spent a successful career in television news working as an anchor and investigative reporter. Now, she is an award-winning outdoor and travel writer, book author, keynote speaker, and owner of ThreeWordPress. Show Notes &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp; Brought to you this week by&nbsp; Show Notes Ever wonder how a childhood dream leads to catching a fish bigger than your entire body? Spoiler alert: it involves nightcrawlers, pigtails, and a life lesson you’ll never forget.  What Happened: Let me take you back to where it all began: a little girl with red bows in her pigtails and a cane pole in her hand, standing on the shore of St. Mary’s Lake. "My grandpa—a master outdoorsman—taught me the essentials of fishing: respect for nature, the thrill of the catch, and the joy of releasing what you don’t plan to eat." “Dig those nightcrawlers, and I’ll take you fishing,” he’d say. So, there I was, unbothered by the dirt or the worms, just focused on earning my spot on the lake. Fishing wasn’t just a pastime; it was a gateway to appreciating the dew on the grass, the calls of morning geese, and the quiet magic of nature. Fast forward a few decades and countless fishing trips later, I found myself in a tiny Spanish village, Mecaninza. My goal? To catch the legendary wells catfish—monsters of the deep that grow to ridiculous sizes. That day, I hooked a fish so enormous I could’ve crawled inside like a sleeping bag. Holding it, I couldn’t help but cry. Not for the sheer size of the catch but because, in that moment, I felt Grandpa’s lessons come full circle.  Principle: Here’s the truth: the seeds of our passions are often planted early, and they grow with us in ways we can’t always predict. For me, it was Grandpa’s insistence on finding joy beyond the catch—the sound of frogs, the way sunlight dances on water, the respect for what we take from the earth. Whether you’re an adventurer at heart or just finding your way into nature, the journey is about more than the destination. It’s about the stories that shape us, the lessons that stick, and the memories we carry forward.  Transition: But here’s the thing: so many of us feel disconnected from this kind of life. Between work, deadlines, and everyday chaos, reconnecting with nature feels… impossible. Maybe you’ve never had a “Grandpa” moment to inspire you. Or maybe you’re stuck thinking outdoor adventures are only for the pros. That’s why we dove into this topic on the podcast—so you can see how anyone, from novice hikers to world-class anglers, can find their outdoor spark.  Call to Action: Feeling stuck indoors and missing out on nature’s magic? Stop waiting for “someday” to start exploring. Listen to our latest episode with Anitra Hamper and discover how one passion can change everything. 🎣 👉  Let’s turn your “someday” into today. &nbsp;

Grandpa, a Cane Pole, and a Catfish Bigger Than Me [EP 483]

Show Notes the year end news is beginning to trickle out already.&nbsp; The 2024 most listened-to podcast rankings from iHeartRadio changed things up a bit, sharing which shows were the most listened to by users based on which generation they fall into. Among Gen Alpha, a show with a school-like vibe ranks first as iHeart says&nbsp;&nbsp;was the most popular with the demographic of people born between 2010 and 2024. Among Gen Z listeners,&nbsp; ranks on top.&nbsp; Millennial users of iHeart most streamed the on-demand version of “” radio show. Gen X listeners had something in common with Gen Alpha — they both went for something in the History genre — but Gen Xers were more interested in the bad guys. The age group’s biggest podcast was&nbsp;, the series that focuses on the worst people in history. Baby Boomers were more politically focused, with&nbsp;&nbsp;their top podcast pick in 2024. Show Notes &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Love the show?&nbsp;Subscribe,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for my Newsletter&nbsp;&nbsp; I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:&nbsp;&nbsp;

EP 484 Ricks Riffs: Newsletter update, Year end Podcast rankings

Brian and I talk a little fly fishing biz and what its like to work with National Accounts such as REI. Facebook&nbsp;Twitter &nbsp; Instagram&nbsp;Website &nbsp; Please give us a rating and review&nbsp;HERE

030: Brian Bennett- Cycling, Sales and some Moldy Chum

Adam has a strong track record protecting the Arctic and it is good to know we are in good hands with people like Adam and his team. Adam talks about the headwinds we are up against in Arctic Alaska and how you can get involved at a local level as well as nationally.&nbsp; Facebook&nbsp;Twitter &nbsp; Instagram&nbsp;The Outdoor Biz Podcast &nbsp; Please give us a rating and review&nbsp;HERE &nbsp;  Show Notes Adam Kolton, the new Executive Director for the Alaska Wilderness League has a strong track record working to protect Arctic Alaska. It is good to know we are in good hands with people like Adam and his team. Adam talks about the headwinds we are up against in Arctic Alaska and how you can get involved at a local level as well as nationally. First Exposure to the Outdoors Getting to spend time in the wilderness on days off from working at the restaurants and hotels in Yellowstone Things we talked about Alaska Wilderness League Conservation Alliance Outdoor Alliance National Wildlife Federation Other Outdoor Activities Hiking Bakpacking Favorite Books Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Best Gear Purchase under $100 YETI coffee mug Connect with Adam&nbsp; adam@alaskawild.org Linkedin  &nbsp;

061: Adam Kolton of the Alaska Wilderness League- Adam tells how the fight for the Arctic has just begun and how we can do more.

Katie talks about how she got into the outdoors, some of her experiences with guiding at A16 and Trail Mavens and about a couple new gear rental/borrow programs that you need to know about. Facebook&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;Instagram &nbsp; The Outdoor Biz Podcast &nbsp; Support the show &nbsp; Please give us a rating and review&nbsp;HERE &nbsp;  Show Notes Katie talks about how she got into the outdoors, some of her experiences with guiding at A16 and Trail Mavens and about a couple new gear rental/borrow programs that you need to know about. First Exposure to the Outdoors I was lucky enough to have parents that took me hiking in the local mountains where I grew up. I grew up at the base of the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles. My parents are not like big huge outdoor people, but they love nature and they loved taking us on hikes up in the national forest and then we'd do road trips to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon and we'd always stay at hotels. They weren't big campers but the exposure to camping happens with much later. I definitely had a love for the outdoors from young age because of where I grew up. Then my parents began prioritizing taking us to the national parks. I got into camping because I went to a summer camp, a sleep away camp on Catalina through the YMCA and got to spend time on the island and it was glorified camping. We had kind of shelters that we would stay in that were open air shelters so you could feel the breeze of the ocean. That was kind of my first exposure to sleeping outside and I just thought I just loved it. I thought it was so much fun and a kind of kept on finding opportunities over the next several years throughout middle school and high school to go on camping trips. Things we talked about UC San Diego Outback Adventures REI Adventure 16 Outdoor Retailer Jeff Sheets, Dan Hill, Dan Miller, Tim Richards 8000 Meter Challenge Clif Bar Trail Mavens, Sasha Cox Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Last Minute Gear Bay Area Wilderness Training Camber OIA Advice, tips Take advantage of every single opportunity there is to get more involved. So if there is an opportunity to be a part of an event that you know, takes you away from your company or your store or wherever you're working so that you can get exposure to other companies or other aspects of the industry. I think that we need to encourage everybody to have these kind of cross functional trainings so that we can take all of these bits of information that we find out there and use them to make our industry better. So if somebody is interested in getting into the industry who isn't in the industry already, I think it's really important to, you know, if you can go to these industry networking events, whether it be Camber or OIA puts on some throughout the country to those are really helpful. Other Outdoor Activities Biking X-C Skiing Favorite Books Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey Best Gear Purchase under $100 Darn Tough Socks Connect with Katie&nbsp; wadekatieanne@gmail.com

103: Katie Wade- Katie has lots of great stuff going on and she tells us about a new project about to launch.

You’ve seen Adams work in various brand ads and catalogs including YETI, Mtn Khakis and more. Adam tells us how he became photographer and what its like to “get the shot” no matter the conditions. Facebook&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;Instagram &nbsp; The Outdoor Biz Podcast &nbsp; Support the show &nbsp; Please give us a rating and review&nbsp;HERE &nbsp; Show Notes  First Exposure to the Outdoors No, one of the first outdoor experiences I can recall would have been ski Mountain Dell Golf Course with my, with my dad in Parleys Canyon. There's no chair lift it. It literally is the golf course. So you know, you're strapping on your skis and I remember him pushing me, pushing me down. It was a total disaster, but it stuck with me and I loved it. And to this day, you know, if you knew me in high school or college or whatever, my entire life was structured around skiing and I think that had a large part of, of getting into outdoor photography was figuring out how I could call scheme my job. Right. So yeah, that was kind of my first one of my first outdoor experiences for sure. Things we talked about Westwater Cataract Canyon Middle Fork of the Salmon YETI Mountain Khakis Lifestraw Follow the litres Advice, tips I've got maybe three bits of advice. The first one, which I think is kind of forgotten in this day and age is simply to do the work. You know, like you gotta put your head down and grind. There's this expectation of being able to just jump in and see massive success and it's the, it's a endeavor that requires time, you know, 10,000 hours to master a craft. And so that would be the first thing is do the work. And don't forget that there's just no way around it. There's no shortcut, right? You gotta get up early, you got to stay away, you got to send the email and you got to do the Promo, you need to brand yourself, you need to have a good website and you stay updated. The second would be to remember the value of relationships because ultimately no matter how skilled you are or their reputation that proceeds you, in my opinion, this business, like many businesses out there is based on relationships. People that hire us, right? It's people that sign our checks. It's people that rehire us or choose not to and you know, so it's so vital and so key to establish and maintain relationships. And then lastly, I would say to stay the course because it's a roller coaster of ups and downs and if you really want it, you know, you got to be in it for the longterm and six months is not enough. One year is not enough. Three years, you're just at the very career. Yeah. And so you know, if you really want a, I mean even with me being a decade into this, obviously it's still very much a rollercoaster. The work can really consistent and then not, you know, and somebody said the other day on a social posts that I gave, you need to adapt, adapt or die because the industry is consistently evolving state of course, and if you're passionate about it, driven. If you're skilled, if you get to work and remember those relationships and you're bound to succeed for sure. Other Outdoor Activities Biking Skiing Favorite Books Ski Journal Best Gear Purchase under $100 Leatherman Headlamp Connect with Adam&nbsp; website Instagram Adam@adambarkerphotography.com  &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

115: Outdoor and Adventure Photographer Adam Barker

Chase is helping future outdoor leaders navigate their paths into outdoor careers and building a comprehensive collection of catalogs and other documents from the early days of the outdoor industry and more. Show Notes Intro to the Outdoors I'm from Utah, born and raised. It's hard to not get into this industry. I have parents who took us out. Camping is what we did. I have a mom who was perfectly fine with taking us out of school to go skiing. And that family time and the outdoors is always the most important thing. So when you have parents like that, who are willing to get you out of school to go play that's a good thing. Utah State University Outdoor Product Design and Development Utah State University started this Outdoor Product Design and Development program in 2015. And a year after it had started, they advertised a role for someone to do industry outreach for the program. And I thought, okay, I could work for one brand or I could go work for a program where I get the chance to talk to brands across the industry. So that seemed like the dream and to be able to go back to my Alma Mater and work with students and be a part of that, and being a part of the campus atmosphere was really interesting. So I made that jump. And that's what I do full-time is our industry outreach and marketing for the program. Outdoor Archives The archives grew out of that program.&nbsp; The program has a history of gear class and the faculty member that runs that, and our special collections team are at the university and do all the archival work. We got together and just thought, wouldn't it be cool if we had primary documents and print materials that the students could actually study instead of just talking about the outdoor, the history of the industry.&nbsp; Actually, see it and study it in the archive. And so we started reaching out to some of the industry contacts that we had built and just started asking if they had old stuff that they wanted to be preserved. Connect with Chase       Snippets 01:51 - 02:15&nbsp; &nbsp;Intro to Outdoors 35:00 - 36:00 Favorite Gear

Chase Anderson on Utah State’s Outdoor Product Design Program &amp; the Outdoor Recreation Archive [EP 258]

Corey Rich says that Long ago he learned the technical part of any job is 10 percent. Creativity, problem-solving, optimism, and surrounding yourself with intelligent, hardworking people is the remaining 90 percent. When you know how to be creative and assemble the right team, that's when all great things come. We talk about how he grew his photo career into prolific creative photo and video offerings that grace much of the media we’ve been drooling over for the past 20 plus years. &nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp; Please give us a rating and review&nbsp; Show Notes How were you introduced to the Outdoors and Adventure Sports Storytelling and Photography? I was a gymnast as a kid, grew up in the Mojave desert. I was ironically about my daughter's age, seven years old in second grade, My second-grade teacher had an elite gymnast as a daughter and she thought it might be good for me to try gymnastics. I don't know if I was ever hooked on gymnastics, to be honest. I think I just liked the challenge of it even early on, it was hard. And then it became a huge part of my life, gosh, probably for close to 10 years, maybe a little less than 10 years. I became a pretty competitive gymnast who competed at the state level. So one day we had a pull-up contest in junior high school and I did 35 pull-ups and one of the school teachers took notice of me and invited me to go rock climbing. And that weekend, my brother and I went climbing. We went to the Needles of California, a little spot called Dome Rock. And that was it. I was hooked. I just loved every aspect of climbing, the mental, the physical, the cultural components, the drive up to the needles with two of my school teachers, Bob Porter and George Egbert and I was hooked. Then the next weekend I'd borrowed my dad's camera. Because I wanted to make better pictures, tell better stories of these weekend adventures. And I realized right away that my dad had a pretty nice camera, but my photos still suck. And I realized that it's not about the camera, it's about how you use it and how you think. So within a week, two passions were born. A passion for adventure, for climbing, and the passion for storytelling. Where did the storytelling part come from? Do you have any storytellers in your family? I think my dad was always this oral storyteller. He loved yucking it up, like shooting the shit with his buddies, in our kitchen or around a campfire. My dad was a scuba diver, big into back in the day when it was, a little more of the Wild West. Diving off the channel islands and you could actually bring home stuff to eat. We had so much abalone, like hundreds of abalone shells in our backyard in buckets. He and his buddies every Friday after work, they would take off and they would get on a dive boat out of Ventura or Oxnard go out for two days. And they would come back with, wild tales of adventure and some food to eat. So I think I learned storytelling from him. He always was a good storyteller. He would come home and tell some crazy tale of a kid blowing up and the sheriff coming to school and the parents having to get arrested, not always doom and gloom, but he could see the light. He understood the highlights of his day. He told even a better story of scuba diving, and so did his buddies. Tell us about your first Adventure Sports Storytelling and Photography commercial shoot? I started to shoot a ton of climbing. That was my passion. And it's worth saying that I simultaneously was really trying to just become a better photographer. So I started this parallel pursuit. I started working at the local newspaper taking on assignments for the . Then in college, I went to the  and got two internships back-to-back in the summers. So I was learning to tell stories, editorial storytelling for the newspaper. Then I took a semester off from college and drove around the Western United States, photographing rock climbing. And sent some unsolicited submissions at the end of that semester, one to Climbing...

Adventure Sports and Outdoor Storytelling with Photographer/Filmmaker Corey Rich [EP 265]

Welcome to The Outdoor Biz Podcast where I interview leaders in the Outdoor Recreation Business and get their stories, tips, strategies, and ideas that you can apply and take your Outdoor career or business to the next level.

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