202. Road Salt Threatens Our Freshwater Future with Brendan Wiltse

In episode 13 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, we are going to talk about how consumers can recognize truthful and transparent product marketing and how businesses can optimize their green stories. To help me break down and better understand the ins and outs of sustainable product marketing, I’d like to introduce Amanda Winther. Amanda Winther is a Sustainability Brand Messaging Strategist and Copywriter. Her business, Amanda Winther Creative, helps eco-conscious brands tell their Sustainability Stories transparently and authentically across their digital presence (things like their website and emails). When she's not nerding out about sustainability, you will probably find her outside -- seeking out the best paragliding, hiking and skiing across the Western US. She lives full-time in an airstream trailer with her partner and dog. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ----------------------------- Lava Linens Discount Code for 15% off your next purchase: OUTDOORMINIMALIST AMANDA WINTHER WEBSITE: https://amandawinther.com/ AMANDA WINTHER INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.winther/?hl=en AMANDA WINTHER LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandawinther/ AMANDA'S ROOTED FRAMEWORK: https://amandawinther.com/about ROOTED SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOP (Dec 9th): https://amandawinther.thrivecart.com/rooted-sustainability-story-workshop/ ----------------------------- OTHER EPISODE RESOURCES: FTC GREEN GUIDE: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/truth-advertising/green-guides KICKSTARTER COYOSY: https://www.coyosy.com/?fbclid=IwAR0mOSqcYM_C1-Cs-odnIC-VpJso8djAgBnDywUnjbSRZG00NMC_jAKzDoE

6 Dec 202129min

A staggering amount of wrapping paper is produced and sent to the landfill each year, but there is still a large portion of that being sent to be recycled. That's a good thing though, right? The answer might surprise you! Tune into this week's bonus episode to learn more. What you'll find in this bonus episode: How to identify recyclable wrapping paper Why most gift wrap can't be recycled Reusable options for wrapping presents And more! INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ----------------------------- EPISODE RESOURCES: Earth911 Article Referenced USA Today: Christmas Wrapping Paper: What You Can't Recycle FairyTale Waltz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100232 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

1 Dec 20218min

In episode 12 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, we discuss the use, or lack thereof, of natural fibers in the outdoor industry. What is the deal with natural fibers in the outdoor industry? Why don’t we use them more if they’re more sustainable? Why are they more expensive and harder to design? Are synthetics really that bad for the environment? Are certain natural fibers more eco-friendly than others? So many questions! To help me answer some of these questions and more, I’d like to introduce John Gage. John Gage is the co-founder of Appalachian Gear Company, a brand that pioneered performance fabrics made from 100% alpaca fiber geared toward outdoor adventure activities. John has spent his career in textile manufacturing and is also a lifelong outdoor enthusiast. Appalachian Gear Company was founded with a simple goal in mind: to create a performance product line using natural fibers that gives customers an eco-friendly alternative to polyester and nylon while bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ----------------------------- APPALACHIAN GEAR COMPANY: https://appalachiangearcompany.com/ APPGEAR INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/appgearco/ APPGEAR FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AppGearCo APPGEAR BLOG: https://appalachiangearcompany.com/blogs/appgear-insider

29 Nov 202140min

In episode 11 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we are going to hit a topic that I love to talk about but I hate that exists: greenwashing. Like many topics that I cover in my book, I feel confident I could do an episode on my own about this, but I’d rather hear from industry experts about greenwashing specifically in the outdoor industry, their experiences, how they avoid it, and their ideas moving forward. So, to help me dig deeper into this important topic, I am thrilled to share my conversation with Steven Sashen. Steven is a serial entrepreneur who has never had a job, a former professional stand-up comic and award-winning screenwriter, and a competitive sprinter -- one of the fastest men over 55 in the country (maybe the fastest 55+ Jew in the world!). He and his wife, Lena Phoenix, co-founded the footwear company Xero Shoes, creating "a MOVEMENT movement" which has helped hundreds of thousands of people Live Life Feet First with happy, healthy, strong feet in addictively comfortable footwear. Xero Shoes has been on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for 5 years in a row. Steven and Lena also appeared on Shark Tank, where they turned down a $400,000 offer from Kevin O'Leary. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ------------------------- Lava Linens Discount Code for 15% off your next purchase: OUTDOORMINIMALIST XERO SHOES WEBSITE: https://xeroshoes.com/go/OUTDOORMINIMALIST XERO SHOES INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/xeroshoes BAREFOOT RUNNING BOOK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9925784-the-barefoot-running-book SNOPES: https://www.snopes.com/ MICROPLASTICS INFO: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/reduce-laundry-microfiber-pollution/

22 Nov 202137min

How can we shift our mindset to focus more on the outdoor experience and less on the equipment it takes to get us there? In episode 10, we explore what it means to have a sense of place and to truly experience your time outside. To help me explore these ideas and how to apply this mindset shift, I had the pleasure of talking with Daniel Ritz. Daniel A. Ritz, is an outdoor journalist and writer based in Boise, Idaho. Ritz's work has been published by Trout Unlimited, Orvis, Western Native Trout Initiative, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Outdoor Idaho Magazine, Alaska Sporting Journal, Fish Alaska Magazine and Visit Idaho: Idaho Department of Tourism. His editorial focus is contemporary issues regarding conservation, the environment, outdoor recreation, and legislation. Most recently, Ritz created a 40-part series sharing the experience of his Western Native Trout Challenge that was published by Trout Unlimited, Orvis and Western Native Trout Initiative, and Montana Fly Company. In it, he wrote personal experience-based essays and natural history and science-based "Species Profiles" for each of the 20 available native trout and char species of the Western 12 states of the United States. Currently, Ritz volunteers as the communications coordinator for the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Idaho Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Ritz graduated in 2009 from Salisbury University on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with Bachelor's Degrees in Journalism and Philosophy. He resides in Boise with his partner Holly, their Wirehaired Pointing Griffon named Trout, and an oversized cat named Julio. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ---------------------------- Lava Linens Discount Code for 15% off your next purchase: OUTDOORMINIMALIST WESTERN NATIVE TROUT CHALLENGE: https://westernnativetroutchallenge.org/ DANIEL RITZ WEBSITE: https://www.jacksexperiencetradingcompany.com/ DANIEL RITZ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jacks_experience_trading/ DANIEL RITZ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DanielARitz29 OTHER EPISODE RESOURCES: https://www.inc.com/anne-gherini/cash-in-on-experience-economy.html https://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/05/millennials-are-prioritizing-experiences-over-stuff.html

15 Nov 202134min

In episode 9 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we will be discussing a hot topic in any part of the sustainability and zero-waste movement: single-use plastics. More specifically, we will be discussing the use of plastics on the production side of packaging with some limited discussion regarding consumer use of single-use plastics. To help me expand on this topic, I had the pleasure of talking to Steven Reinhold. Steven has worked within the outdoor industry for over a decade. He began his outdoor career with Big City Mountaineers’ Summit for Someone program where he guided and recruited fundraising climbers whose efforts supported BCM’s wilderness-mentoring programs. Steven has been an ambassador for multiple outdoor brands and currently serves as Backpacker Magazine’s official Brand Ambassador. He created the online sensation #trashtag, a social media-based cleanup effort, which went viral in 2019 and has been used over 100 million times worldwide! Steven also founded The Appalachian Adventure Company, which has strong guiding-roots, but has since grown into a formidable Media/Marketing/Consulting company which works closely with organizations like Black Folks Camp Too, Leave No Trace, and the Southern Environmental Law Center. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ------------------------ Connect with STEVEN: https://www.instagram.com/ramblin_reinhold/ APPALACHIAN ADVENTURE COMPANY: https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianAdventureCompany/ BLACK FOLKS CAMP TOO: https://www.instagram.com/blackfolkscamptoo/ Plastic Impact Alliance: https://www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/tag/plastic-impact-alliance/ Join the Plastic Impact Alliance: https://www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/issues/sustainability/packaging/how-to-join-plastic-impact-alliance/ About the #trashtagchallenge: https://www.cleanupnews.org/home/trash-tag-challenge Ever Green Adventure Foods: https://evergreenadventurefoods.com/ NoSo Patches: https://nosopatches.com/ Rerouted: https://rerouted.co/

8 Nov 202138min

As you start to plan your holiday plans, book flights, or map out your road trip, you may be asking yourself: Is it greener to drive or fly to Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations? There isn't a cut-and-dry answer to this, so in this bonus episode, I'll provide a few options and some food for thought. [I misspoke in the episode and where I say carbon "positive" I meant to say carbon "negative"] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist -------------------------- EPISODE RESOURCES: Calculate Flight Emissions: https://www.atmosfair.de/en/offset/flight/ CORSIA UN Flight Offset Plan: https://www.carbonbrief.org/corsia-un-plan-to-offset-growth-in-aviation-emissions-after-2020 Find Reputable Carbon Offset Projects: https://www.green-e.org/certified-resources/carbon-offsets https://marketplace.goldstandard.org/collections/projects https://www.cooleffect.org/about-us/cool-effect-model Washington Post Article Quoted: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/questions-about-carbon-offsets-flights-answered/

3 Nov 20217min

Episode Disclaimer: the topic of ecollars (or shock collars) is discussed during this episode. Since the time of recording this episode, I have changed my stance regarding ecollars and no longer use them with any of my dogs. If you listen to later dog-related episodes, you will hear more about R+/Force Free dog training that involves no adverse tools. I encourage owners to do their research and know the potential impacts of using these collars as they can cause harm, especially when they are not used properly. ------------------------ Love to take your pup hiking and camping? Recently adopt a new dog that seems too reactive on walks to ever dream of taking them hiking? Well, we have some news for you! Adventuring with your dog can and should be rewarding for BOTH of you. In episode 8 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, I have the pleasure of talking with dog expert, dog lover, and dog mom Jen Sotolongo about how to responsibly take your dog on any outdoor adventure. Jen Sotolongo is the founder of the adventure dog blog, Long Haul Trekkers, and the author of the book, the Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs. She is working toward becoming a dog trainer so she can help owners live their best lives with their dogs. Jen lives in Portland, OR with her rescued cattle dog mix, Sitka where they spend a lot of time exploring the best trails for running. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ------------------------ LONG HAUL TREKKERS WEBSITE: https://longhaultrekkers.com/ LONG HAUL TREKKERS INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/longhaultrekkers/ BUY THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO HIKING WITH DOGS: https://longhaultrekkers.com/book-2/ OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: https://longhaultrekkers.com/dispose-of-dog-poop/ https://longhaultrekkers.com/the-place-command/ https://longhaultrekkers.com/shop/ https://www.poochpaper.com/

1 Nov 202138min