Today, Joe Johnson - Salomon’s outdoor marketing manager in the Americas joins us to share his long and winding journey to a very cool job, and even cooler lifestyle. It’s a story of survival on free breakfast burritos, taking risks, and dedicating oneself to good work and good relationships.
Also discussed:
How to keep work you love from keeping you from doing other things you love.
Listen up, then go out, do what you want to do, make connections and be memorable.
Where to find Joe:
@johnsonjoe at Twitter and Instagram
Global social media for Salomon freeski (Twitter and Instagram)
Learn more at The Gear Show
Today’s episode will change the way you think about thinking big and what success really is. Dan Abrams had an idea. He didn’t know how it would happen or what would come of it. He took calculated risks, he made backup plans in case of worst case scenarios, he overcame “down-on-his-luck moments,” and didn’t think too much about where it was headed.
Dan is the founder of Flylow Gear, backcountry ski apparel. And today he we talk about:
How do you take an idea as a college kid and make it happen?
Solve a problem in the backcountry ski marketplace and compete with the big brands?
I had been a huge fan of FlyLow gear and of Dan Abrams for at least 10 years when I had the pleasure of skiing with him and his now wife Megan Michelson at Schweitzer Mountain when I did the PR for the ski resort. Megan is a freelance writer and rad freeskier.
Some things we discuss:
Dan’s Role models
Where to find Dan:
Jill Damman had a biking accident that would change her life forever. She could let the incident define her, or she could decide how she would let it define her. Jill shares with us a very difficult time in her life and how she made it into something better than she was before. There are so many silver linings in this story, I hope it changes what a “bad day” means to you.
We discuss:
Links:
Find Jill online at www.jilldamman.weebly.com
The Gear Show will return October 5th with all new episodes!
“Encouragement doesn’t have a price”
We each have “our own Ironman.” It might be a 5k. It might be climbing Everest. Doesn’t matter.
today, my friend, Tom Garrity, owner of The Garrity Group, the leading PR Firm in New Mexico, joins us to share how he trained for and competed in the Ironman 70.3 Boulder, crossed the finish line with his arm in a sling, and still achieved a personal record.
Tom’s story of getting active didn’t even start until his late forties. From couch to marathon training, to ultras to Ironman 70.3 - that’s a Type A character if I’ve ever met one, all while running his PR agency.
There is no shortage of laughter in our conversation as well as ideas for keeping motivated for those mornings you just don’t want to get out of bed.
Links mentioned
Where to Find Tom
Instagram - @tomgarrity
Twitter - @tom_garrity
Research by Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School, found that immersing yourself in a country outside your own can prompt mental change, including increased creativity.
Creativity is related to neural pathways and influenced by daily life, including your habits or surroundings, The Atlantic reports. Experiencing new things can create new connections in the mind.” - Thrive Global, How Travel Can Get You Out of a Creative Rut
It turns out the travel bug is good for you in so many ways and today I have no guest - it’s just me, talking about travel, specifically, international and what I’d call “immersion” travel - the kind where you get off the beaten path, beyond the quote unquote manicured for tourist experience and really get to know a place and it’s people.
Patrick and I took a month to live in SW France. We were able to work from there on our businesses and explore the area and truly experience the region. We’ve had a lot of questions about the trip and I wanted to share some big lessons of our own, and outcomes of this kind of travel. Now, we were lucky enough to be able to take a month to do this. I’m not suggesting it has to be a long time. You could do this for a week if you wanted!
Some of the things discussed:
Links and resources
Locations mentioned
Apps used
Today’s episode is going to give you gear barn envy and if you are the type to love type A organization, you are going to love the way Jeff Thompson plans his summer camping trips.
Jeff is director at Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center, a husband and a dad to a five year old girl. We’ll talk about packing lists, and lists of lists, and refining those lists. He’ll share with us what he carries in his backpack and we even talk about how to get kids stoked to love the outdoors.
Learn more at www.thegearshow.com
Links, Resources, Further Reading:
Nalgene Drink Tube and Bite Valve
Where to find Jeff:
Today's episode might change the way you think about hydrating.
I like to overthink things. I often wonder if I need to be more methodical about how I’m hydrating when I go out for whatever it is I’m doing for longer than an hour. Do I need to calculate my height/weight, distance, number of calories needed and then figure out the formula for my water and/or sport drink?
There are a few schools of thought when it comes to hydration while adventuring in the outdoors. Some say drink before your thirsty. Others say it’s better to dehydrate than over-hydrate. You’ll die from the latter, not the former.
Brian Harder is back, my friends - regular guest, good friend, former Exum Mountain Guide, and a generally pretty gnarly dude is going to break it down for us.
We had a fun discussion sharing stories of (de)hydration, what packs we use, how we fuel during and after our long workouts. He tackles such topics as to how and if it will affect performance and how to figure out what works for you. We talk about the idea of drinking before your thirsty and sloshy stomachs. Sugar drinks! Why types of sugar are OK?
And as usual, we get a little philosophical balancing preparedness with the risk of adventure. Hint: Brian likes to offer search and rescue guys job security.
Learn more at www.thegearshow.com
Links, Resources, Further Reading:
Tim Noakes - The Lore of Running
waterlogged
Where to find Brian:
Today’s episode is going to help you summon the mental strength to not crumble under pressure.
Do you ever wonder how the professional athletes do it? Make the foul shot when the stadium is thumping? Drive the golf ball on the cutthroat round of the Masters Tournament? I do. Because my version of that foul shot is hopping into a new business client meeting, or the moments before a webinar starts, or I take the stage to give a speech. We all have our “foul shot” moments that could take us down if we let them.
Today, Cara Bradley, author of On The Verge: Wake Up, Show Up, and Shine, is going to give us some amazingly practical tips for calming our sorry selves down so we can not only do well, but kick ass.
Cara, a former professional skater, is a mental strength coach in bodymind training. She is the founder of the BodyMind Center in suburban Philadelphia, co-founder of the non-profit Mindfulness Through Movement, hosts practices and strategies on her On The Verge podcast series and free app and is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and Mindful Magazine. She also leads unique bodymind programs for CEO’s, corporations, conferences, universities, and sports teams.
It’s not as hard as it sounds - our thoughts really do become our reality so it’s up to us to not let that impostor syndrome take over and win. We’re going to learn how to train our mind much like we train our bodies, and even the big time professional athletes are doing this stuff. So let’s take some lessons from them and do better than just OK.
Links, Resources, Further Reading:
George Mumford - The Mindful Athlete
Where to find Cara:
Today is part 2 in our mini series on longevity, aging and wisdom. It’s the continuation of my conversation with Dave Leffmann, physical therapist, soon to be published author, and good friend and mountain playmate - today - we talk about our mind - the fastest and most adaptable tissue in the body - our nervous system and how our thoughts and outlook on life, scientifically translate to our physical abilities.
We have the power to use our mind to do better not just mentally, but physically and it’s interesting because for many, the mind is likely the most overlooked piece of gear we own.
I don’t want to get morbid on you, but often we fail to appreciate the important things in our lives until after they are gone. Dave and I have this conversation through the lens of a loved one(s) with terminal illnesses living out their last days to the fullest, and the positive outcomes from that, the work that it has led him to do. Hopefully we all walk away from this promising ourselves to focus more on our nervous system and to live our own lives more optimistically and fully.
Links and Resources
Joan Borysenko - psychoneuroimmunology
Where to find Dave:
Dave isn’t really an online kind of guy. He’s an outside, offline one. Having said that, here his YouTube channel and information about his upcoming book:
Caregiving 101 YouTube Channel
Book will be coming out this fall via Summertime Publications and called: Caregiving 101: A Practical Guide to Caring for a Loved One
The best piece of gear we each have is our bodies. And I want mine to last. Every single time I find myself out running, skiing, mountain biking - having a blast - I take a moment to thank the universe that my body lets me do this. Much like when your internet fails you, you don’t appreciate something until it doesn’t work. Consider me grateful.
Today I talk to Dave Leffmann, physical therapist, soon to be published author, and good friend and mountain playmate about his philosophy on longevity and how to be the dude who’s still downhill skiing at 80.
In this part 1 of 2, we focus on the physical: training, fitness and wisdom. We have to be smart about training. We can’t be the foolish young 20 somethings we used to be, and he’ll share with us some fundamentals like specificity and periodization.
What is your willingness to accept risk vs spending the season on the couch in a cast or a sling? As we get older we have less time to lose but become wiser to consequences. When we’re younger, we are more resilient but as we age we get more brittle and everything slows down. It’s time to adapt. Learn how, listen on.
Links:
Where to Find Dave
Caregiving 101 YouTube Channel
You can always find more at www.thegearshow.com.
Today Toni Carey and I talk about staying sane while also running a business and the common denominator is some kind of movement. Although we talk primarily about running (and yoga), it doesn’t have to be about running specifically. Toni is the founder of Black Girls Run - a hugely popular movement with running groups all over the nation. She shares with us how she started and built a community, the importance of social exercise and we both talk about the the dips (periods of destruction or crises) and the highs, (growth stages) of life in general. Toni has some tips for those of you who want to run but can’t seem to fall in love with it. Hint it doesn’t mean you have to run: but she has ideas for both sides.
I also want to thank Ralph Rivera - a friend, an owner of three businesses, and the co-host of the podcast Carbon Based Units - this is a great podcast for entrepreneurs and marketers - they talk about everything. The reason I want to thank him is that when I started recording this particular interview, I had a feeling something was awry but what did I do? I carried on with it and did nothing. At the end, I discovered the input wasn’t set properly and the audio was horrible. Ralph to the rescue. Thank you Ralph. It’s good having friends who want to help. and the lesson? be a better listener of your gut. Always.
Links mentioned:
Randy Zuckerberg: The Entrepreneur’s Dilemma
Where to find Toni
You can always find more at www.thegearshow.com.
Today’s episode will change the way you think about tackling something that scares you, not just in the outdoors but also at work.
Brian Harder, a seemingly fearless mountaineer and former Exum Mountain Guide is the perfect guy to talk to about this because he does stuff I see on instagram and say NFW. Scaling rock, climbing chutes, skiing in the No Fall Zone… so how does he deal with fear? Does he even feel fear?
Whether it’s an outdoor pursuit or our own professional pursuits, i think you’ll find this thought provoking. We discuss exposure to risk, uncertainty, how different people view risk and reward, (like him and I), and the best way to not only get better at something, but to increase your threshold for fear.
Learn more at www.thegearshow.com
Professional trail runner and coach, Rene Unser shares with us her training philosophy and habits and tips she incorporates into her every day life as it relates to rest, recovery, and hydration. Along the way, she shares some pretty moving stories and experiences.
This is about much more than trail running - it’s about finding your “thing,” maybe hating it at first, then falling in love with it. Even if you aren’t a trail runner, Rene’s story will make you fall in love with it. As in any of my episodes, I hope there is always a bigger lesson that whatever it is you initially hate, then love, is something you can embrace and improve upon - that will eventually lead to greater adventures.
I often wonder if a better or different bike would have helped me ride that section I just got off my bike and walked. Or is trust in the bike and self-confidence in my own ability? So I asked my friend Rusty Spiedel to come on and tackle this topic, and talk about what bikes can do for us. We discuss different wheel sizes and their pros and cons, different types of terrain and body types and the importance of the Adjustment Ride - do you have the right travel on your bike? Is the air in your fork enough or too much? Are you locking out the suspension at the right times? Lastly, if money were no object, what bike would you buy?
Lastly, Rusty shares with us a few tips plus a bonus one, on preventing your next mountain bike shit show.
Please share your added thoughts in the comments at www.gearshow.com
Sometimes we jump into something with such frenzy and ambition, we might not be properly prepared. We are in over our heads. It’s a theme many of us are familiar with, perhaps in our lives, perhaps from the news.
Powder Matt Mosteller sets the stage for our conversation today by sharing a story of lofty teenage goals, finding himself in over his head and getting himself safely out of it. From this and many other experiences throughout his life, he helps us prevent our next shit show by giving us a full-on primer on everything you should consider for your first backpacking trip: conditioning for your trip, where to go, what kind of gear needs your consideration, personal health and safety and things to think about when you bring the kids and/or dogs along.
Even if you aren’t planning a trip, it’s a good lesson on life.
We talk to Sarah Brown, 2-Time USATF World Championships team member and professional track & field athlete for Team New Balance about running and training while pregnant and postpartum, and when dreams go sideways - how we respond,adapt and move forward.
Sarah will share her story about her unexpected pregnancy while training for the 2016 Olympic Trials and going on to compete in said trials four months postpartum and how the most difficult year of her life was also the best.
Mid-life crisis, existential crisis, epic freakout…. whatever you want to call it, we’ve all had one or more. Today’s episode is less about yoga and more about how to respond to a period of breakdown and come out better than before. For Jason Konopinski, our guest today, yoga was his savior. For you, it might be something else.
We talk running shoes with trail running coach, author, and speaker, Mike Ehredt. As in anything, no shoe is made for all runners. We have to take things like running conditions, the terrain you're running on and your own biomechanics to choose the right
As we get older, we start to feel like a used car with nagging injuries: "I can’t run today because my knee, my achilles tendon, my shoulder.." Whatever the case may be. Today we’ll talk about one of the most important pieces of gear we have - our bodies, and the importance of strength training to prevent chronic injury and support the play we want to do in the wilderness. As our guest, Jen Fisher puts it, we need to be physically prepared and do a lot to support our bodies to be able to fully enjoy the outdoors. Jen Fisher is a personal trainer, owner of The Shed Gym in Sandpoint,race director for the Sandpoint Scenic Half Marathon. and host of Functional health radio show.
Are you setting yourself up for success and preparing for worst-case scenarios? We like to think the stuff we read about in the news won't happen to us. One bad turn of events, and the game has changed. Today, we talk to Jeff Thompson, director of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center, ski patroller, and recreational backcountry skier. He shares with us what he carries in his backpack - a cumulative knowledge base of shit shows that have perfected this perfect balance of not too much and not too little in the backpack.
Guest and former Exum Mountain Guide Brian Harder walks us through the different features of backcountry skis and how to understand what features matter to you based on your objectives. Brian will also provide a few pearls of advice to save the day in the backcountry - things you might not otherwise have thought of, as well as tell us about one brand of ski in particular that changed powder skiing for him forever, for the better. Can you guess which one?
Today is part 2 of three in our backcountry ski equipment series with Brian Harder, former ski mountaineer racer and Exum Mountain Guide, based in Anchorage Alaska. Your gear will make or break the day, and often we don't give much thought to our touring bindings. I learned the hard way, this is not a good way to approach that.
We talk about safety in the backcountry, what factors one should consider when shopping for them.
In the first in our series on backcountry ski equipment, we talk to former Exum guide, Brian Harder on the many things to consider when you do your backcountry ski research. Today we start with alpine touring boots? What features should you look for given your objectives? Do number of buckles matter? What about weight? He also shares some trusted resources and great boot shops. Because if you don't have happy feet, how can you possible be happy? Remember, it's a Gear Show so you don't have a shit show.
It's pretty easy to come up with ideas and to, for example: register for a race or an event, an idea for a new business; even to come up with an idea for a new podcast! It's another thing altogether to make ideas happen - to get to the finish line, to launch the podcast. So why do we do this to ourselves?
In the pre-pilot to The Gear Show Podcast, I introduce the concept behind the Gear Show and what to expect.