BLISTER Podcast

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 (5:58)Adventure Vans & Tiny Homes (13:32)Van Customization (21:50)Tiny Homes & Living Smaller (27:33)Laws around Tiny Homes (42:19)What Counts as a Tiny Home? (47:20)Bjarne’s Summer (53:44)Learn more: Bjarnebuilds.com (55:30)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Aug 202359min

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 Checklist of Life Goals (37:59)What Professional Trail Runners Earn (47:51)NFL Tangent (1:01:10)Massive NBA & Soccer Contracts (1:02:46)Most Canadian News (1:09:56)Mountain Town Advice (1:14:34)What makes you a “Local”? (1:14:36)Sex before Skiing? (1:16:14)Which language is most spoken in the ski industry? (1:21:32)What We’re Reading & Watching (1:26:46)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Aug 20231h 42min

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 Girdwood, AK).The group discusses how small towns can serve as test zones for new & innovative policies; the impacts of an outdoor-recreation-based economy; the ongoing challenge of affordable housing; ideas for new methods of funding, and more.You can also watch the video of this conversation over on our Blister YouTube channel.TOPICS & TIMES:Intros (3:39)What Others Can Learn from Small Mtn Towns? (4:50)Recreation & Its Impacts (13:38)Affordable Housing (34:57)Engaging Younger Generations (46:00)Innovative Funding Mechanisms? (51:40)RELATED LINKS:Watch the Video: Mountain Towns & Outdoor RecreationOpenSnow.comBecome a BLISTER+ MemberBlister Summit 2024CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Jul 20231h

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 Team (23:00)Importance of De-Escalation (33:19)Communication Styles (38:10)Angel’s Open Mic piece on Moving & Social Media (46:53)Ask Angel: Endurance Sports? (57:05)How Do You Decompress at the End of the Day? (1:04:28)RELATED LINKS:Blister Open Mic SeriesBecome a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Jul 20231h 24min

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 Forecasting (9:32)What to do with this Info? (17:32)Wildfires & Tracking Them (20:49)Technology used for Tracking (25:58)Lightning (38:29)Best Practices for Planning a Day Outside (47:08)Most Common & Most Consequential Mistakes People Make (52:24)Using OpenSnow (1:03:07)RELATED LINKS:OpenSnow.comBlister Podcast Ep.237: Joel Gratz on Modern Weather Forecasting Become a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Jul 20231h 10min

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 Valley; the current work of the SV Museum of Art; and the Sun Valley Wine Auction, which is a remarkable event put on by the Sun Valley Museum of Art to raise scholarship funds and to support a very broad range of arts in and around Sun Valley — and beyond.TOPICS & TIMES:Why do we need centers of art in places of great natural beauty? (2:32)Courtney’s (and Jonathan’s) background (13:52)History of Art in Sun Valley (22:57)Ernest Hemingway & Ezra Pound (28:27)Sun Valley Wine Auction (36:58)Jonathan’s river rafting trip in Stanley, ID (40:26)What does the Wine Auction fund? (48:12)What’s next for the SV Museum of Art? (51:44)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Jul 202358min

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 (46:23)Being a Local & Being a Jerk (48:21)Public Lands Rule Proposal (1:00:13)Mountain Town Advice (1:04:45)What We’re Reading & Watching (1:35:05)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Jun 20231h 50min

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 (34:22)The slowness of traveling by boat (34:33)If you could have sauce shoot out of your fingertips? (36:07)Best practices for social media use (39:17)Best practices for forgiveness & anger (47:02)What’s your exercise routine? (1:05:05)Did you sell the house you built with John? (1:09:51)John Collinson’s Q for Angel (1:10:29)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberPre-Order our 23/24 Winter Buyer’s GuideBlister Open Mic SeriesCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Jun 20231h 14min