Beyond The Trailhead

Guest: Jim Wirth — Creator, GiantMouse Join us for a deep and fascinating conversation with Jim Wirth, co-founder and CEO of GiantMouse Knives — a boutique knife brand known for thoughtful design, premium materials, and unforgettable storytelling. In this episode, Jim shares how a lifelong passion for knives, a chance meeting at a New York knife show, and a bold leap from the corporate world led t...

Guest: Tim Hunt — Lead Designer, SlingFin In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, Craig sits down with Tim Hunt, lead designer at SlingFin, to break down how some of the most respected tents in the outdoor industry actually come to life. This conversation goes deep into design thinking, real-world testing, and the constant problem-solving that happens long before a tent ever hits the trail. Tim w...

Guest: Devin Ashby — Creator & Owner of Backcountry Exposure In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, Craig sits down with Devin Ashby, the creator behind Backcountry Exposure — a brand built one stitch at a time, often late at night, at a sewing machine in his own home. Devin shares the real, unfiltered journey of turning a decade of YouTube experience into a growing soft-goods business. We t...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast In this episode, Craig sits down with Josh Bryson, the creator of FKT Gear, a brand redefining what trail sunglasses should be. Frustrated with flimsy frames, foggy lenses, and gear that couldn’t keep up with real mountain conditions, Josh set out to engineer sunglasses that are tougher, clearer, lighter — and built specifically for hikers, runners, and adventurers...

In this episode, we sit down with Shawn Willette, the solo founder, designer, and engineer behind one of the most talked-about ultralight innovations in recent years — the AntiMatter Chair from No Matter. Shawn takes us through: • The exact moment the idea for the AntiMatter Chair hit him • How he engineered a chair that weighs almost nothing but holds full body weight • The brutal realities of be...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast — Episode 8 Guest: Derek Tillotson — Creator & CEO of Haven Tents In this episode, Craig sits down with Derek Tilson, the inventor behind Haven Tents, the lay-flat hammock tent that has changed the way thousands of people camp. From rough sketches and field tests to scaling a full outdoor brand, Derek shares the real story behind building one of the most innovat...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Guest: Natalie Barral Summit day on Mount Whitney turned into one of the wildest survival stories we’ve ever shared on Beyond the Trailhead. In this episode, Craig talks with Natalie, a hiker who faced a brutal storm, a sprained ankle miles from the trailhead, and a night on the mountain that ended with a helicopter rescue. From hail and lightning to trail angels an...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Guest: Brian Davis — Co-Owner, Hollow Socks Join us for one of the most passionate and entertaining episodes yet with Brian Davis, the co-owner and inventor behind Hollow Socks — the ultralight, breathable socks designed to keep your feet dry, cool, and comfortable no matter how far the trail takes you. In this episode, Brian shares his creative journey — from desig...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Guest: Mike Glavin — Founder & CEO, Zenbivy Join us for an inspiring conversation with Mike Glavin, the creator and CEO of Zenbivy, the company redefining backcountry sleep with its modular, ultra-comfortable sleep systems. In this episode, we dive into Mike’s journey — from years of working for major outdoor brands to taking the leap and building his own. He sh...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Guest: Deed — Founder & CEO, RecPak Join us for a powerful conversation with Deed, the creator and CEO of RecPak, the high-calorie, ultralight meal system built for serious expeditions, thru-hikes, and demanding backcountry missions. In this episode, we dig into the origin of RecPak — how a search for reliable nutrition on long expeditions turned into a full-sca...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Guest: Holly Jaleski — Chief Creative Officer, Grubcan Join us for an inspiring conversation with Holly Jaleski, Chief Creative Officer at Grubcan, a brand bringing innovation, humor, and true personality to the world of backcountry bear safety and wildlife gear. In this episode, we dive into Holly’s creative journey, the story behind Grubcan’s bold identity, and ho...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Guest: Maximilian Lenk — CEO of X-BIONIC Join us for a fascinating conversation with Maximilian Lenk, CEO of X-BIONIC, the Swiss brand redefining high-performance apparel through science, innovation, and cutting-edge design. In this episode, we dive into the story behind X-BIONIC’s revolutionary technologies, how they’ve blended biology and engineering to create gea...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Guest: Scott Jensen — Founder & CEO of Near Zero Join us for a deep and inspiring conversation with Scott Jensen, the creator and CEO of Near Zero, a company on a mission to make lightweight, high-quality backpacking gear more accessible and user-friendly. In this episode, we dive into Scott’s outdoor roots, how the famous DEAN backpack came to life, and what it...