Trevor Kennison is one of the most remarkable athletes in the world, and like Travis Rice, Candide Thovex, Courtney Dauwalter, and Alex Honnold, he forces us to see things differently and rethink what’s possible. Josh Berman and his team at Level 1 Productions have created a film, Full Circle, that premieres this week in New York, and that documents Trevor’s incredible story and exploits, and the challenges — and opportunities — of life after spinal cord injury. ALSO: Trevor and Josh are...

Last Thursday, Mark Abma came to Western Colorado University for another edition of our Blister Speaker Series. He broke down his segment from the MSP film, ALL IN; discussed his part in the new MSP film, Land of Giants; and he talked about his preparation for ski season; longevity; confidence; pressure; staying calm; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Revisiting your segment from “ALL IN” (5:43) Evolving Big Mtn Skiing (7:54) New MSP film: The Land of Giants (14:56) Longevity in Skiing...

Cody and Jonathan pay tribute to Robb Gaffney; discuss the growth in snowsports and who is more passionate: alpine skiers, cross country skiers, or snowboarders; the sale of Silverton Mountain; the Most Canadian News; Cody’s latest FIFTY film, ‘Split’; & more TOPICS & TIMES: Time to Get Jonathan on a Snowboard (5:00) Remembering Rob Gaffney (13:29) SIA Report: Snowsports Participation is Up (21:41) Has Climbing Succumbed to Numbers? (38:22) Blevins Corner: Silverton Mountain Sold...

What does the future of snowsports look like? At our last Blister Summit, we asked Nina Waters (Blizzard-Tecnica), Dr. Len Necefer (Natives Outdoors & Sonoran Avalanche Center), Dan Abrams (Flylow), & Hanna Whirty (Icelantic) to discuss some of the current realities, biggest challenges, and significant opportunities for the outdoor sports industry. You can also check out the video of this conversation on our YouTube Channel. TOPICS & TIMES Introductions (2:36)  Expanding...

Last Thursday, Angel Collinson came to Western Colorado University for another edition of our Blister Speaker Series. We talk about her ski career, purpose, passion, and how to think about when it might be time to alter the path you're on. TOPICS & TIMES: Angel’s education (3:40) Philosophy (6:29) Brass tax moment in her ski career (10:37) Talk about leaving “the ski dream” a couple years ago (15:49) Quitting something and going in the “I don’t know” phase (22:41) Reducing spending...

Mike Rogge is back to talk with Jonathan about outdoor media, plus Mountain Gazette’s new issue #200, which includes contributions from Jeremy Jones, comedian Steve Martin, cartoonist Harry Bliss, Karl Fostvedt, and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Battle of Our Big Books (6:34) Issue #200 highlights (16:14) Jeremy Jones’ piece (20:06) Karl Fostvedt’s writing (23:53) Steve Martin & Mountain Gazette (32:52) How to Order (35:10) Traveling to Italy (38:03) Jonathan & Mountain Gazette Library...

Cody and Jonathan discuss marketing jargon in the outdoor industry; the sale of Jackson Hole Mtn Resort; another mountaineering controversy; mountain town advice; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Why Cody & Elyse purchased BLISTER+ (10:17) McSweeney’s on Marketing Jargon & Outdoor Gear (16:14) Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Sold (28:05) Strava: the nicest social media platform? (34:32) Kristin Harila & Tenjin Sherpa’s Mountaineering Record (41:30) More on Harila & Tenjin Sherpa’s...

Skier Zack Giffin (host of the TV series, Tiny House Nation & co-host of the podcast, Tiny House Tales) makes a compelling case for how smaller living spaces can be a significant part of the solution to affordable housing; homelessness; climate issues, energy consumption, and creating more socio-economically diverse communities — which is a fancy way of saying, real, actual communities. This is another important addition to our conversations on mountain town economics & affordable...

What is 1% for the Planet, who started it, and what do they do? Furthermore, when a crisis breaks out (like the current fires in Hawaii), many of us wonder how best to contribute, which organizations to donate to, and how to go about determining that? To help us get a better handle on all of these topics, we’re talking with Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, and our hope is that this conversation will inspire individuals and businesses to keep taking steps to create a better...

Angel Collinson and Jonathan discuss jealousy; imposter syndrome; her Open Mic piece on “steeping”; and more of your ‘Ask Angel’ questions — including one of the strangest we’ve ever received. TOPICS & TIMES: Still Adjusting (5:17) Oppenheimer & Barbie (17:12) Angel’s Open Mic piece (20:55) Steeping & Integrating Experiences (27:50) Ask Angel: if you could be any animal…? (34:07) Jealousy (38:58) “Aligned Opportunities” (54:39) Imposter Syndrome (1:07:49) New Sacraments: If you...

We talk with Bjarne Salén about his adventures & exploits with Cody Townsend for The Fifty Project, then we talk about his other big project: getting people to rethink how and where we live, and creating solutions to make that possible (see bjarnebuilds.com). This conversation is an excellent complement to Blister Podcast ep. #270: Mountain Towns & Outdoor Recreation: Challenges & Solutions. TOPICS & TIMES: It’s pronounced, “Bjarne” (3:58) Cody & The 50 Project...

Cody and Jonathan discuss a potential pay cut for wildland firefighters; a robotic exoskeleton that aims to provide “unprecedented experiences for everyone with an outdoor lifestyle”; a skier’s ‘embarrassing’ checklist of life goals; whether sex before skiing enhances or detracts from performance; and much more. TOPICS & TIMES: Wildland Firefighters Pay Cut (5:53) Robotic ExoSkeleton for Outdoor Adventure (10:20) Trespassing / Corner Crossing on Private Land? (24:59) Skier’s Embarrassing...

For anyone who lives in or visits mountain towns, this conversation contains some of the best ideas and proposals we’ve ever heard for helping both mountain towns and outdoor recreation survive and thrive. Colorado Sun reporter, Jason Blevins lead this discussion, and joining him are Dara McDonald, (Crested Butte Town Manager), Jonathan Houck (Gunnison County Commissioner), Pete Wagner (Wagner Custom Skis & resident of Telluride, CO), and Paul Forward (Blister reviewer & resident of...

Angel Collinson is back to talk about her recent reunion with Sage Cattabriga-Alosa & Ian McIntosh, then she & Jonathan dive deep into some crucial relationship dynamics that we all need to better understand; vampire erotica; your ‘Ask Angel’ questions; our Open Mic Series; & more. TOPICS & TIMES: Bass Coast & Reconnecting w/ Sage & Ian (1:35) Sage & Hobbying to the Max (7:23) Couples Retreat (15:49) Relationship Dynamics (18:38) Being - and Staying - on the Same...

Before you head into the mountains or hit the trails to go bike, hike, run, camp, or climb, wildfire, lightning, and smoke exposure are factors that need to be well understood and assessed. OpenSnow founder and meteorologist, Joel Gratz is back on the podcast to discuss the science and practice of smoke forecasting and wildfire tracking, and to share some of the most common weather-related mistakes and best practices for adventuring outdoors. TOPICS & TIMES: Storm Chasing (2:13)  Smoke...

Why do we need centers of art in mountain towns and places of great natural beauty? It’s a question that any of us who live in or visit mountain towns ought to consider — and perhaps especially if you are someone who hasn’t typically sought out the art programming and events in the mountain towns you frequent. Last week, Jonathan was in Sun Valley, Idaho, to discuss this topic with Courtney Gilbert, the curator of the Sun Valley Museum of Art. They also discuss the history of the arts in Sun...

Cody and Jonathan discuss beaming solar energy from space; cupcake crimes; cultural appreciation vs. appropriation; the FKT (fastest known time) culture; an important Public Lands Rule proposal; mountain town advice; and what they’ve been reading & watching (including why Cody’s been watching lots of reruns of The Office). TOPICS & TIMES: Beaming solar Energy From Space (10:28) Jack Kuenzle & FKT Culture (19:49) Blevins’ Corner: Astis Mittens (31:40) Most Canadian News...

Angel Collinson has some big news to share: she’s back on land, and she’s considering a return to skiing. Then Angel and Jonathan dive deep into the topic of forgiveness; reflect on Mary McIntyre’s excellent Open Mic piece; and also discuss hot sauce, twerking, and John Collinson’s important question for his sister. TOPICS & TIMES: Life Updates: Back on Land (2:09) Upheaval & Stability (6:54) Returning to Skiing (14:02) Mary McIntyre’s Blister Open Mic Piece (22:01) Ask Angel...

Ever dreamed of starting your own business in the outdoor industry — or ever wondered what it takes, and how you’d go about it? We talk about the state of startups in the outdoor industry with Moosejaw CEO, Eoin Comerford. And as the CEO of an outdoor retail company — as well as his work with the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator, where Eoin works closely with new companies and founders — Eoin is extremely well positioned to talk about the startup landscape today, and in this conversation, he...

Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) is back to talk about fatherhood; creative work and the nuts-and-bolts of creating; ‘staying in your lane’; and his new book, MAKE IT, which is an easily digestible guide to making just about anything, actually. TOPICS & TIMES: Cooking (3:20) Fatherhood (6:50) Child Rearing as a Creative Project (12:54) Outdoor Activity Level (14:54) Tips for Pacing @ Hardrock 100? (20:12) Balancing Fatherhood & Creative Work (24:54) Brendan’s book, MAKE IT...

Cody and Jonathan discuss the case for climate optimism; this season’s record number of skier visits; Super El Nino; the Most Canadian News; mountain town advice (including a new pick-up line for use in mtn towns?); and of course, they’re talking about Succession. TOPICS & TIMES: The Case for Some Climate Optimism (9:16)Record # of Skier Visits (14:56)Mtn Towns Being Loved to Death? (23:39)Most Canadian News (35:06)Super El Nino (39:51)Mountain Town Advice (43:56)Cabin vs House?...

So how much of the Icelantic backstory do you know? Jonathan talks to Ben Anderson about the lucky breaks, tough beats, and key moments in the history of Icelantic; where their name and logo came from; working with Never Summer; prototyping & developing skis; how Icelantic got into the music business; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: What is Icelantic? (5:34)Ben’s background (7:22)When did you decide to start a ski company? (12:55)College (15:54)Names & Logos (25:22)Funding (32:04)First...

Angel Collinson just experienced “the best two weeks of my life,” so we discuss that; the process of self discovery; Sam Elias’ & Hillary Allen’s recent Open Mic pieces, and why writing is often wrestling; and then in our ‘Ask Angel’ segment, we go over a number of the questions that you had for Angel. TOPICS & TIMES: The Best 2 Weeks of Angel’s Life (2:19) How to discover, “Who am I?” (14:22)Work & Consumerism (24:05)Sam Elias’ & Hillary Allen’s Open Mic Pieces (33:13)Ask...

Ever been mad about a brand killing off or changing your favorite product? Ever been confused by the sea of very similar-seeming products that a brand makes? Today, Jonathan is talking with our bike editor, David Golay, and our running editor, Matt Mitchell, about brand identity, creating customer loyalty, trend chasing, and more in the ski, bike, and running industries, and what advice we have for companies to reduce customer confusion and increase the staying power of brands, product lines,...

While Cody is off trying to get on top of some peak somewhere, we brought in a guest host who can actually draw more than 100 listeners: Dr. Len Necefer, founder of Natives Outdoors and the Sonoran Avalanche Center. Len and Jonathan talk about the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial, The Most Sonoran News, Luis Benitez & the creation of a new federal office of outdoor recreation, mountain town advice, and, you’ll hear the craziest “What We’re Reading” segment in the history of Reviewing the...