142. Can AI Technology Foster Connection within Outdoor Sports? with Jamie Grant
In episode 142, I am excited to introduce the topic of AI to the show. Technology plays a massive role in our daily lives, but also in shaping the outdoor industry and our experiences with the natural world. With AI applications on the rise, there are many ways that AI can be detrimental to the environment as well as to our interpretation of the world and art. I will eventually do an episode on the environmental impacts and long-term effects of AI and data centers, but for this episode, we wanted to take a bit of a positive spin and look at some ways that AI can be used to optimize our time spent outdoors. To help explain all things AI and provide a more positive outlook on the future of AI technology, I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Jamie Grant. Jamie is the co-founder and CEO of Carv, the digital ski coach. He has a background in Physics and a PhD in Statistics. Jamie came late to skiing, starting when he was 18. After falling in love with the sport, he has dedicated his career to developing Carv to help elevate technique and overall enjoyment in the sport. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- Carv - Your Digital Ski Coach Website: https://getcarv.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carv.ski/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getCarv YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/carvski
15 Jul 202428min
[Documentary Review] Devil Put the Coal in the Ground
When West Virginia broke away from Virginia in 1861 at the start of the American Civil War, its founders did not agree upon the Confederacy or the role of the state in the war. They were, however, united in their interests around the extraction and exploitation of the rich resources of the state – predominantly coal and timber – what would prove to be the dominant theme throughout the history of West Virginia. Uniquely structured upon personal storytelling of West Virginians, the film draws upon their rich experiences and diverse perspectives in order to create an informal, oral “People’s History of West Virginia”. These individuals run the gamut – from recovering opioid addict, to environmental activist, to U.S. Congressional candidate, to town judge, to recovery center nurse, to corporate environmental lawyer, to struggling local business owner – all of whom, despite their differences, remain linked by the love of their home state and the challenges that threaten their survival, and way of life. Devil Put the Coal in the Ground Website: https://www.devilputthecoalintheground.com/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/JqZHM2uyed4?si=YxK4b9TvYq9zQ2no IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10059254/
9 Jul 202415min
141. The Wonder and the Worry: The Power of Storytelling in Times of Environmental Crisis with Chris and Louise Johns
There is wonder in storytelling, whether through words, film, photography, music, dance, or painting. Any form of art requires a deep wonder and admiration for the subject or muse. Growing up in a world plagued by a climate crisis, though, there is immense worry. So, how can we grapple with the wonder and the worry within our world of telling stories? For episode 141 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down and learning from Chris Johns and his daughter Louise Johns to hear about how they balance both the wonder in photojournalism and the worry not only within the natural world but also in the world of media. The first photographer to be named Editor-in-Chief for National Geographic magazine, Chris Johns served as the ninth Editor-in-Chief of the iconic magazine from January 2005 to April 2014, an era marked by 23 prestigious National Magazine Awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors. In 2008, Chris was named Magazine Editor of the Year, and in 2011, National Geographic was named Magazine of the Year. Following his role as Editor-in-Chief, Chris led the organization as Chief Content Officer and directed a major initiative called “Beyond Yellowstone,” a multi-year project documenting the health of America’s first National Park. A native of Oregon, Chris resides with his family in Missoula, Montana, where he teaches journalism at the University of Montana and Oregon State University. Louise Johns is an independent photojournalist and documentary photographer with a master’s degree in Environmental Science Journalism from the University of Montana. A National Geographic Explorer, her work examines the relationships between people, places, and animals, focusing on rural communities in the American West. She began documenting the landscapes and people of the American West while working as a horse wrangler in Montana’s Centennial Valley. Her work has appeared in various outlets, including The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, GEO, The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, and High Country News. Her work has been exhibited regionally and internationally and has won international awards. In addition to her photojournalism work, she teaches photography. She is a fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers, a member of Women Photograph, and has a TEDx talk called Seeing With Heart. She lives in Montana, where she pursues stories that help her understand the place she calls home. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- The Wonder and the Worry Documentary Trailer: https://youtu.be/oPKxr5HNvGQ?si=mmeQ1JSLMWlF5HWA Films at OSU: https://films.oregonstate.edu/worry-wonder Chris Johns Photo Society: https://thephotosociety.org/member/chris-johns/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Johns_(photographer) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-johns-36151532/ Louise Johns Website: https://www.louisejohnsphoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.l.johns/?hl=en NatGeo Explorer: https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/louise-johns
8 Jul 202444min
140. Hiking in Bear Country? Bear Biologist, Sydney Stephens, Wants You To Learn to Coexist
In episode 140, we enter bear country. Now, we’ve talked about bears on the show before with bear biologist Garret Tovey (Episode 85). That episode is a must-listen if you are planning to enter the bear country and want to know some practical bear safety tips. In this episode, we sit down with another bear biologist, but this time have a chance to hear about the bigger picture of bear conservation as a whole and what we can do to better coexist with larger predators like bears. Sydney Stephens is an experienced biologist with expertise in research, teaching, and outreach. Her work spans diverse fields including biology, chemistry, and geography. She is passionate about community outreach, and engages in guest lectures and museum tours, and has worked internationally and with incarcerated populations. Fieldwork highlights include studying bears, sheep, and lions across Lake Tahoe, India, and Kenya, and she currently is conducting research on wild bear populations in Italy and the Yellowstone region of the United States. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- Sydney Stephens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-rae-stephens-37a6b3b5/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydnystphns/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydney.stephens.319/ Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sydney-Stephens IORAA: https://www.ioraa.org/
1 Jul 202441min
Stonehenge Protesters, Climate Justice and Militarization, Plastic Free July, and More
In this edition of In the News, we cover: 1. Why climate protesters painted Stonehenge and why you should pay attention Inspo: https://www.tiktok.com/@liloceanpaige/video/7383069081353604383Sources:https://youtu.be/IOsPJcWlqo4?si=1pRyaj6PSwieLXxD https://www.renewablematter.eu/en/amoc-collapse-consequenceshttps://apnews.com/article/stonehenge-vandalism-paint-climate-protest-summer-solstice-34d7591e858c904a1569ce415a8ad10b https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-024-00568-7 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk1189 2. How militarization holds back climate justice Sources: https://ips-dc.org/climate-militarism-primer/https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/Pentagon%20Fuel%20Use%2C%20Climate%20Change%20and%20the%20Costs%20of%20War%20Revised%20November%202019%20Crawford.pdf https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/The-Greening-of-the-U-S-Military https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/14/climate-change-could-displace-216-million-by-2050-report3. Plastic Free July and a ban on styrofoam in Washington stateOcean Conservancy: https://oceanconservancy.org/action-center/Plastic Free July: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/4. The UN proposes a ban on fossil fuel advertising and the state of Vermont passes a bill requiring fossil fuel producers to pay for climate damagesSources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv22vl99vwrohttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/5/godfathers-of-climate-chaos-un-chief-calls-for-ban-on-fossil-fuel-adshttps://www.npr.org/2024/06/08/nx-s1-4992065/a-law-in-vermont-makes-fossil-fuel-company-pay-for-damages-from-climate-change#:~:text=A%20law%20in%20Vermont%20makes,damages%20from%20climate%20change%20%3A%20NPR&text=Weekend%20Edition%20Saturday-,A%20law%20in%20Vermont%20makes%20fossil%20fuel%20company%20pay%20for,damage%20from%20major%20oil%20companies.If you like this segment and our other content, consider donating to keep us up and running: https://gofund.me/59a67bce
26 Jun 202420min
139. Creating a More Eco-Conscious Fly Fishing Setup with Kaelyn Canner
I was chatting with my brother, who is also the audio producer of this podcast, and I mentioned how we have a surprising number of anglers who listen to the show and interact with our content on social media, including YouTube. While I was surprised, he said, “Well, maybe it is because they see all of the pollution and direct impact of the littering and waste while they’re outside just trying to enjoy the day.” If you’re an angler and you listen to this show, let me know in the Apple podcast review box why you enjoy the podcast and how fishing influences your view of the world. In episode 139, you guessed it, we are talking about fishing! I had a pleasure of sitting down and learning about a unique fly fishing company created by Kaelyn Canner, called Fin River Gear. Kaelyn used her experiences as a female angler working through the trials of learning to fly fish and those of her partner, an experienced conservation-minded angler, to identify some glaring problems with fishing gear and the fishing industry. At Fin River Gear, they research, develop, and market innovative, quality products in an affordable range to remedy current market gaps. They also aim to combat the abundance of plastics, gender and other biases, and antiquated ideas that are so prevalent in the fishing industry. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book GOFUNDME: Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- Fin River Gear Website: https://www.finrivergear.com/store Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finrivergear/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinRiverGear/
24 Jun 202432min
138. Zero Waste, Zero Judgement with Stephanie Hart
Let’s be real: zero waste is super hard to achieve. I myself will likely never be truly zero waste, but much like minimalism, I see zero waste as more of a journey than an endpoint. Several years ago, I came across a Facebook group called “Zero Waste, Zero Judgement." The name itself drew me in, and I decided to join. While I am no longer on Facebook, or at least I’m not at the time of this recording, for a long time, this group was a place where I could ask questions and get honest, kind answers from like-minded individuals all over the world who were looking to help encourage one another to minimize our impact. So, in episode 138 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, I am super excited to introduce Stephanie Hart, the current moderator of the group and the person who helped it grow to what it is today. Stephanie drives 65,000 all-electric miles annually to bring truly sustainable, locally made, closed-loop products to Zero Waste and Refill shops up and down the West Coast. She is also building tools for eco-centered small businesses to thrive and reach thousands more customers daily. She has a knack for looking at an issue from multiple angles so one solution does not exacerbate other areas of sustainability, and she shares her insights and fosters community in the ever-growing Facebook group Zero Waste, Zero Judgement. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book GOFUNDME: Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- Zero Waste, Zero Judgement Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1814853925469112/ Stephanie Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hart-04172437
17 Jun 202440min
137. Travel is Not Sustainable with Breanne and Dave Kiefner
If you listen to this podcast, I assume you love outdoor adventure and travel. Although we may love to visit new places and schedule new adventures each year, it’s no secret that traveling is not sustainable. So, in episode 137 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we answer the question: if travel isn’t sustainable, should we stop doing it? To help us answer this question and how we can maximize the positive impacts of travel, we hear from Breanne and Dave Kiefner, two travel experts and the founders of Root Adventures. Utilizing her decades of experience in the adventure travel and hospitality businesses, Breanne sought to create something fundamentally different. The company has continued evolving in line with Breanne’s mental health journey. The COVID travel pause allowed her to redefine the company with all that she learned along her journey. Her history of PTSD, Dyslexia, and Depression continues to define her vision and leadership style as company CEO as she infuses vulnerability through all aspects of the company. Now, with over two decades of experience in the industry, she is confident that this work is precisely what has been missing from adventure travel. As an adventurer at heart, Dave has a deep understanding of the transformative nature of travel. Applying his expertise in business operations and continuous improvement to manage the backend of Root, he also guides our sustainability practices. His enthusiasm for others to experience transformative travel is palpable. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book GOFUNDME: Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 --------------- Root Adventures Website: https://www.rootadventures.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootadventures/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootadventures/
10 Jun 202442min
