Adventure Made Podcast

Ep 46: Megan Taylor on Belay Expeditions & Ecopsychology

Megan "Belay" Taylor is the owner of Belay Expeditions . She is a mountain climber, long-distance expeditionist, and extreme minimalist. Once entirely nomadic living only on the open road with her bicycle, She now calls Lake City, Colorado home. Belay turned full-time entrepreneur at the age of 35 even though her love for the great outdoors has been ironclad since she was 23. Her entrepreneurial endeavors came after the tumultuous yet life-changing decision to exit a life-long career in academia.Megan lives by and operates BELAY EXPEDITIONS by three values: BE Outside, BE Simple, and BE in Pursuit. She believes these three values coalesce for a life lived better. Hence the BE motto: BE You. Better. Belay credits her achievements and happy life to these three guiding values and motto.Quotes:"Where there is interest there is education""If you don't care about something you're not going to preserve it"Topics Discussed:How Megan got into mountain guidingHow she became an extreme minimalistWhy she considers her expeditions to be a "journey" Why her nickname "belay" has nothing to do with rock climbingHow challenging experiences in nature contribute to a higher quality lifeWhy she wants to own nothingHow her personal values of be outside, be simple, be in pursuit affect everything she doesWhy schools should require a field trip to landfillsWhy ecopsychology is so important for us all to understandHow epigenetics affect people's interest in the outdoorsWhy the best gear makes all the difference in your outdoor experienceWhat the "3 day effect is"Her required expedition gearWhy Belay quit social mediaResources Mentioned:Belay ExpeditionsBig Agnes Copper Spur tentSea to SummitBig AgnesJet BoilPatagoniaBook: Wild New WorldBook: Let My People Go SurfingBook: The Man Who Quit MoneyBook: The Outrage MachineThe Adventure Made Podcast is sponsored by Rewild Gear. Essential gear built for the great outdoors, designed to fuel your next adventure. Come find your wild at RewildGear.com!

Ep 45: Paul Lewis on Starting FHF Gear & Joining Meat Eater

Paul Lewis is the founder of FHF Gear, a high quality brand of hunting, fishing, and tactical outdoor gear. He is an avid fly fisherman, bow hunter, and retired law enforcement officer and SWAT Team Leader from Bozeman, MT. He has a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management from Montana State University. He started FHF Gear as a side gig by hand making gear for himself, teammates and hunting partners, which eventually turned into a full time business that was recently acquired by Meat Eater. Quote: "Always be willing to look at both sides of an opinion"Topics Discussed:How Paul started FHF GearHis creative process for gear designHow they test new gearHow the company has changed and grown over the yearsWhat it was like getting acquired by Meat EaterWhere Paul gets his creative inspiration for new gearHow their popular bino harness differs from others in the marketWhy conservation is so importantPaul's thoughts on predator reintroduction Why changing one's mind is a sign of intelligence His craziest adventure flipping a canoeEssential gear when venturing into the wildernessResources Mentioned: FHF GearInstagram: FHF GearFacebook: FHF GearYouTube: FHF GearPaul's personal Instagram Argali OutdoorsSeek OutsideSparten PrecisionMarsupial GearWeatherbyFirstLiteBook: Gates of Fire by Steven PressfieldBook: Extreme Ownership by Jocko WillinkBook: The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan HaidtBook: Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage by Dan CrenshawBook: The Comfort Crisis by Michael EasterBook: American Buffalo by Steve RinellaPodcast: The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast: Meat EaterPodcast: Bear GreasePodcast: Andy FrisellaThe Adventure Made Podcast is sponsored by Rewild Gear. Essential gear built for the great outdoors, designed to fuel your next adventure. Come find your wild at RewildGear.com!

Ep 44: Jess Caldwell on Following a Natural Path from Birth to Death

Jess Caldwell is an outdoor educator, wilderness survival instructor, nature lover, and yogi. She’s the founder of Wildkind Academy, an immersive program of outdoor education, training, and leadership development. We dive deep in this interview about Jess's wide ranging interests and experience. With a degree in Health & Wellness Promotion from Portland State University, a 25-year study as a Yoga teacher and as a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Jess has developed a holistic health & rewilding program for those seeking one-on-one lifestyle design, and she's one of the most fascinating people I've met in the outdoor space. Quotes:"Always listen to the inner calling of your soul" Topics Discussed: How Outward Bound helped create her love of nature and the outdoorsHow Jess started Wildkind Academy as a way to write off her outdoor equipment purchasesHow losing her father led her into the home funeral and green burial industry and becoming a death doula as part of HospiceThe difference between a “green burial” and a “conservation burial”How the funeral industry and cemeteries have become an ecological disaster How rituals and ceremonies are so important for both birth and death Why nature based coming of age ceremonies are essential for society and culture and how she’s implemented these in her own familyHow a 7 day solo survival trip changed her lifeHow she finds a feminine balance in the male dominated outdoor industry How Wildkind Academy is helping people gain a new appreciation of nature and the wilderness through foraging, fishing, & huntingWhy she’s moving away from the term “rewilding” and leaning into “wild integration” Why plant medicine might be the solution to overcome our environmental issuesWhy you always need to follow your intuition, especially in the outdoorsHow she has evolved from a "prepper" over the yearsWhat gear Jess always carries with herResources Mentioned: Wildkind AcademyWildkind FacebookWildkind InstagramJess on InstagramJess on TiktokOutward Bound  Nature is Metal Instagram account  Survival University JetBoilWazu Gear War Bonnet OutdoorsBook: Diana, Herself: An Allegory of Awakening Book: The Four Agreements Book: The Lion Tracker’s Guide to LifeBook: The Comfort CrisisThe Adventure Made Podcast is sponsored by Rewild Gear. Essential gear built for the great outdoors, designed to fuel your next adventure. Come find your wild at RewildGear.com!

Ep 43: Adam Gall on Timber to Table & Guiding Hunts

Adam Gall shares his work in the outdoor industry, from working with wolves in the wild to managing client expectations when guiding hunts. He also shares some of his favorite gear brands and books that have significantly impacted him. Adam grew up in Caledonia, MI. When he was 20 years old, he moved to Idaho, where he fought fire for USFS. He was hired as a wolf biologist in Idaho with the Nez Perce Tribe for about five seasons. Adam is the owner of Timber to Table Guide Service and Dark Timber Outfitters in Hotchkiss, Colorado, which he started with his wife, Anastacia, in 2015. In 2017 they expanded with Dark Timber Outfitters. Hired as a public high school science teacher in Hotchkiss, CO, Adam resigned from teaching and began guiding fishing and hunting trips. He is involved in numerous state wildlife and conservation efforts with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Adam and his wife have two daughters, Penelope and Olympia, ages 9 and 5. Quotes:"Anybody that hunts is going to get humbled over and over and over again."Topics Discussed:The origins of Timber to Table Balancing hunting and guiding Building the businessFood educationThe varying attitudes of hunting by regionThe importance of being in natureChallenges to conservation management Global changes to the environmentMemorable hunts Tackling a wolf Wolf re-introduction controversyGear to carryFavorite booksResources Mentioned:Timber to Table Guide Service Dark Timber Lodge Instagram:  @timbertotable Kenetrek BootsFirst LiteEberlestockKuiuMystery RanchExo Mtn GearBuck KnivesKershaw KnivesBook: The Frontiersman by Allan EckertBook: Undaunted Courage by Stephen AmbroseBook: The Ninemile Wolves by Rick BassPodcast: Backcountry Hunters and Anglers with Hal HerringPodcast: Mountain & PrairiePodcast: Smartless The Adventure Made Podcast is sponsored by Rewild Gear. Essential gear built for the great outdoors, designed to fuel your next adventure. Come find your wild at RewildGear.com!

Ep 42: Stu Shank on Starting a Family Knife Business

Stu Shank is the Co-Founder and CEO of Reiff Knives, a new direct to consumer, family-owned American made knife company, Last summer, I first became aware of them when they launched a very successful crowdfunding campaign to back their knives. I was super impressed with their branding, marketing strategy, and, most importantly, the quality of their blades.My brother Adam and I had the pleasure of hanging out with Stu and his brother Ben last month at Blade Show Texas, and all four of us really hit it off over drinks talking about family-owned businesses, the outdoor industry, and our passion for creating high quality, American made products. Quotes:"Be passionate about what you do.""If you're going to be stressed out about something, it might as well be your thing and not somebody else's." Topics Discussed:Stu's background & previous work experience Starting a family businessGoing full time with Reiff KnivesWorking in the outdoor industryFrom conception to launching a companyNavigating a Kickstarter & pre-ordersKnife designingBeing a steel nerdThe "perfect" knifeG10 handle benefitsAmerican MadeDrop point vs. Tanto Crowd FundingIndustry relationshipsBeing in love with the outdoor experiencePersonal responsibility for natureBuilding quality productsPrincipals, ethics & a moral compassScaling a startupBuilding a generational businessEssential outdoor gearCPM3V SteelResources Mentioned:Reiff KnivesInstagram: Reiff KnivesFacebook: Reiff KnivesYoutube: Reiff KnivesKickstarted: Reiff KnivesESEE KnivesTuff Possum GearThe Hidden WoodsmenWarbonnet OutdoorsStargazer Cast IronBook: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Book: Ishmael by Daniel QuinnBook: The BibleThe Adventure Made Podcast is sponsored by Rewild Gear. Essential gear built for the great outdoors, designed to fuel your next adventure. Come find your wild at RewildGear.com!