Highlander Podcast

Nancy Zastudil, an independent curator, editor, and writer, and one of our 2024 Outdoor Recreation Archive Fellows, presents her research and findings from her time in the Outdoor Recreation Archive at our 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Nancy Zastudil Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-zastudil-68933891/ Website: https://www.thenecessarian.com/#/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlan...

Martin Hogue, Associate Professor at Cornell, author of Making Camp, and one of our 2024 Outdoor Recreation Archive Fellows presents his research and findings from his time in the Outdoor Recreation Archive at our 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Martin Hogue: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-hogue-05986363/ Making Camp: https://martinhogue.net/Making-Camp Better Food for our Fighting Men by Matthie...

Erin Narloch, Senior Director at History Factory, speaks as our Outdoor History Summit 2025 Keynote speaker on the importance of archives, how archives and heritage can be used by brands, and the Heritage Gap report. Heritage Gap Report: https://www.historyfactory.com/insights/report/the-heritage-gap-report/ Erin Narloch on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-narloch-past-forward/ Listen to...

Clint Pumphrey provides a State of the Archives report at our 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Learn about how the archive grew in 2024 and other projects that we’ve been working on. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, unde...

Bill Simon, former executive of The North Face, Converse, Cole Haas, Marmot, and more talks about his start in the outdoor industry making technical garments in Taiwan in the late 70s, the shift to a global outdoor supply chain over the course of his career. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Prod...

Matthieu Nicol, author of Fashion Army, talks about his work as a visual researcher, the influence of military clothing on fashion, and the value of archive and collecting. Learn more about the book: https://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Army-Matthieu-Nicol/dp/1915743575 Matthieu Nicol: https://www.instagram.com/matthieu_nicol/ Vintage Food Photography: https://www.instagram.com/vintage_food_photography/...

Henry Iddon and Max Leonard, authors of Mountain Style: British Outdoor Clothing 1953-2000, join the History of Gear to talk about their book, the influence of UK-based outdoor brands, and what makes British outdoor clothing special. Learn more about the book: https://www.isolapress.com/shop/mountain-style Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Hi...

Bob Howe, the tent designer behind iconic tents from Early Winters, Sierra Designs, and The North Face, talks about his career in the outdoor industry. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training t...

As a special episode for Halloween, we are sharing a previous episode of the History of Gear. Jack Gilbert and others founded Mountain Hardwear on Halloween in 1993. Enjoy this conversation with Jack! Jack Gilbert, former Vice President at The North Face and President of Sierra Designs and founder of Mountain Hardwear, joins the podcast to talk the history of gear. Listen to these conversations on...

Todd Arenson, founder of Tsunami, talks about the Utah outdoor products industry and the rise of fleece! https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-arenson-052609a/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree trainin...

Keith Byrne, Senior Manager - Global Brand Education at The North Face talks to students about corporate culture as well as aligning personal and brand values. https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%98%87keith-byrne-7a85227/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program a...

Nancy Grimes, founder of Banana Equipment, talks about starting the company, being a woman in leadership in the outdoor industry, and introducing some of the first Gore-Tex products to the market. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University,...

Charles Ross, a Lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London, talks to OPDD students about sustainability, performance apparel, and reducing consumption. https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-ross-1464714/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State Un...

Randy Merrell, founder of Merrell and the Merrell Foot Lab, talks about his ties to Utah State University, custom boot making, and the founding of Merrell. https://merrellfootlab.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year,...

Ron Smith, founder of American Outdoor Products, talks about the history of backpacking food, buying Dri-Lite and turning it into what is now Backpacker’s Pantry, and 75 years of outdoor food. https://backpackerspantry.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development progra...

Robert Jungmann, founder of Manastash and Jungmaven, talks natural fibers, founding brands, and the early days of hemp clothing in Seattle, Washington. Robert Jungmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jungmaven/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State...

Alumni from the OPDD program, Natalie Cullum, Connor Young, and Jacob Johnson, return to the program to share their experiences and answer questions from current students who are preparing to enter the workforce. Natalie Cullum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-cullum-b07509126/ Connor Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-faux-young/ Jacob Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-johnson...

Damon Morris, VP Outdoor at Elevate Outdoor Collective, talks about his journey into the sports / outdoor industry, the dynamics of working on a product team, and shaking up the ski industry. Damon Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonmorris/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design &...

Paige Koch, designer at Primo Golf Apparel and freelance designer, talks about her journey as a freelancer and shares tips and tricks for those looking designers looking to do the same. Paige Koch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigekoch/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Devel...

Steve Brings, founder of WAVE Products, talks about the outdoor industry in Utah in the 70s / 80s, and the origins of his company, which started by making local ski patrol bags for hauling explosives when triggering avalanches. Wave Products: https://waveproducts.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Ou...

Dr. Rachel Gross, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Colorado Denver and one of our 2022 Outdoor Recreation Archive Fellows, returns to the podcast to talk about her new book, Shopping All the Way to the Woods: How the Outdoor Industry Sold Nature to America. https://rachel-gross.com/my-book/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The...

Greg Thomsen, founder of Wilderness Experience and the force behind the creation of Nike ACG and Adidas Outdoor (US), shares his experience as an executive in the outdoor industry and talks to students about the qualities of great product teams. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregthomsen/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is s...

Diane Bristol, VP of Culture & Community at Revelyst, talks to students about how to connect their personal values to those of a brand, and how to identify positive or negative company culture during the job search. https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-bristol-95a15910/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the...

Andrea Kelly, founder and CEO of Make Plus Equal, talks with students about her experience as a product manager and merchandiser, working for companies like Columbia Sportswear and Nike. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-c-kelly/ https://makeplusequal.com/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Produ...

Mark Paigen, founder and inventor of Chaco, talks about the whitewater boom of the 90s and its influence on sport sandals, the creation of Gecko, which would become Chaco, and his newest venture, Tread Labs. https://treadlabs.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpaigen/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Out...