The Dirtbag Diaries

Born and raised in Hawaii, World Champion spear fisher and renowned chef Kimi Werner has travelled around the world to catch and cook fish big and small, educating others how to lead a life of sustainable consumption. Those are just a few reasons producer Marco Siler-Gonzales spent three years running down an interview with her. In her new book, Kimi’s Kitchen, Kimi connects the many lessons learn...

 In late summer of 2025, Kurt Refsnider straddled the Canadian border in Washington, pointing his bike south towards the border of Mexico. He was about to bring concept to reality: the first rider to attempt the Orogenesis trail, a decades long pursuit to bring a mammoth single track through-ride across the entire pacific crest of the United States and Mexico. This is a story of how a trail is mad...

Tyler and Paul, two fathers at different ends of the parenting spectrum, contend with what it means to live an adventurous life as a parent. As they embark on challenges of their own, they both come away with new perspectives on how to define success in the outdoors.  Support comes from Kuat Racks  Oboz  Darn Tough () Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.com...

When local river guide-turned small-town investigative reporter Sam Karas discovers that the Trump administration has been quietly waiving environmental regulations to expedite the building of a new border wall, she knows that they'll be coming for the Big Bend soon. This remote corner of West Texas is widely beloved for its rugged beauty, dark skies, and unique wildlife, and now, locals are comin...

Derick Lugo’s first hike was the Appalachian Trail. By the time he finished six months later, he was transformed. As Mr. Fabulous, Derick has inspired audiences all over the country to get outdoors and put one foot in front of the other.  Get a signed copy of A Fabulous Thru-Hike or The Unlikely Thru-Hiker at Derick’s shop. Support comes from Kuat Racks  Oboz  Darn Tough  Free shipping on any orde...

In this live recording from STRIB Unbound, host Fitz Cahall sits down with Josh Klauck and Jarrod Alder of Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop and Nasrieen Habib of Hiking Hijabie to talk about building community and getting outside in the great city of Minneapolis.  Thanks to Unbound for inviting us. Support comes from Darn Tough  Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Kuat Racks  Oboz  Ka’Chava Go...

Ultra runner Sara Aranda inherited a genetic mutation that took her mother away at a young age. In the years following, Sara has woven together storytelling and adventurism to pay tribute to her mother's memory and empower herself to keep fighting. In 2024, Sara made an audacious FKT attempt on a route that travels 130 miles from the lowest point in the continental United States to the highest.  O...

In the outdoors, things don’t always go as planned. Seth Cohen and Skye Hart each set out to test themselves, one in the hills of Wyoming and one in the skies above Colombia, and both end up stuck, relying on the goodwill of strangers. Support comes from Kuat Racks  Oboz Darn Tough  Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! Yo...

It wasn't just any piece of rock. Portable may be the world's most famous boulder. Parlor trick, mascot, right of passage -- call it what you want, but this toaster-size piece of granite nestled in the lush forest of Squamish is a beloved fixture of the Canadian climbing scene. Then it went missing. When Portable turned up in the California desert, professional climber Ethan Salvo knew he had to g...

Years of dedication to conservation biology and an enduring love for animals led SJ Joslin to their dream job running the Big Wall Bats program in Yosemite National Park. But after hanging a flag on the side of El Capitan, they were fired, upending their life and sending them on a journey to better understand their rights and their duty to their community. And SJ must decide how far they would go...

When immigration enforcement raids came to Los Angeles, Vanessa Herrera was packing her two kids into the car to head out on a rafting trip on the Klamath River. On their trip, Vanessa ponders the duality of being a Latina river rat and wonders how she can ensure her boys feel at home in their country’s wild places.  Support comes from Kuat Racks  Oboz  Darn Tough Free shipping on any order with c...

From a very young age, Nate George learned that if he wanted anything in this world, it was easier to just build it from scratch. In 2016, Nate opened a climbing gym in an old potato shed, financing it with revenue from his computer export business. Nate's return on investment was fostering a stoked climbing community in the flattest area of the United Kingdom.  Support comes from Darn Tough Free...

On a flyfishing adventure to explore the High Sierra’s most remote valley, Rebecca Ramirez is the first to admit that, fifteen years ago, she’d have easily been voted “least likely to be here.” When she decides to cut the hooks off her flies and explore a new way to connect with trout, her dedication to conservation and commitment to mastery come full circle. Much of the music in today’s episode i...

What does it take to create something that lasts? Kathy Karlo is the executive director of No Man’s Land Film Festival, the first film festival by and for women and genderqueer adventurers. Kathy talks to Diaries producer Lauren DeLaunay Miller about staying scrappy, finding hope through community, and securing a vibrator sponsorship.  No Man’s Land Film Festival is in Denver Saturday, March 7th....

Biting cold, freshly fallen snow, frozen lakes– what could be better? Brooke Maushund and Carrick Gambell take us through the joys of winter from the mountains of Patagonia to the forests of New England.  Support comes from ⁠Darn Tough⁠ Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Kuat Racks  Oboz  Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.com and use code DIARIES for 15% off your next order. Diaries+ Member...

Saying yes to out of the box ideas can lead to incredible places. Alex Honnold’s live solo of the Taipei 101 tower seemed to spring out of nowhere, but it was the culmination of more than a decade of effort to make the moment happen. Today, we sit down for a debrief. Support comes from Oboz  Darn Tough (through early July) Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava...

Gazing out at the magnificent coastline of Big Sur, Justin Krompier realized his day job wasn't going to cut it.  Following a decades long battle with drug addiction, Justin decided to take a leap of faith, leaving the stability of a 9-5 for a life of adventure on the road with his camera.  Support comes from ⁠Darn Tough⁠ Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Kuat Racks  Oboz  Ka’Chava New...

 In August of 2025, professional adventure cyclist Sarah Swallow spent over a month bikepacking from the Pacific Ocean to the Eastern slopes of the Rockies. Her goal? To scout a new formal bikepacking route developed by the Adventure Cycling Association which stretches from the Mississippi River to Oregon: The Golden Gravel Trail. Sarah breaks down the highs and lows of her mostly solo bikepacking...

Andy Cochrane hails from a Park Service cabin in Minnesota and has lived the life many dirtbags dream of. He spent years on the road, funding his travel through skillful storytelling and photography. While out on a long trail run, he realized something was missing, and decided to create it. As he brought friends and community members on board, he discovered someone else had the same idea. It quick...

 As a high school teacher in Santa Maria, CA, Taylor Mihelic understands the power of a field trip. Whether it’s plant identification hikes through the forests, or habitat restoration projects on the coast, Taylor gets the best out of her students when there’s adventure in the air. During her summer break this year, Taylor took her own field trip on the tour divide bike race, exploring the edge of...

Time spent outside as kids can extend into our adult lives in incredible ways. Jay Inslee’s passion for being outside shaped his path from his three terms as governor of Washington all the way to the national level. His pioneering policy work is having an impact in Washington state and proving that change is possible if we bring our determination to the world’s biggest problems.  Support comes fro...

Loss can create an emotional cocktail when something or someone is unceremoniously ripped from our life. Amie Renaud and Joanna Henry invite us along through their circuitous roads through grief.  After the sudden end of a relationship, Amie embarks on a grand bikepacking trip. Right as she’s finally settling in, she finds herself picking up the pieces again. Joanna hadn’t reconciled the loss of h...

Shane Schieffer just swam the entire length of Lake Powell self-supported in 11 days. He also just turned 50 years old and had no previous experience in long distance swimming. Shane talks about following through on personal challenges, no matter how far-fetched they seem at the moment.     Check out ⁠Shane's Instagram for his videos that documented his swim. Support comes from Kuat Racks  Oboz Th...

What do we want and what do we need? Sara Holzknecht started skiing every month of the year as a way to shake off the unexpected upheavals of life and the pandemic. Then her kids wanted in. Gabby Markel was living a dirtbag dream, but something was missing. She confronts the less glamorous aspects of vanlife and grapples with feeling untethered from community.  Support comes from Kuat Racks  Oboz...

Mount Bachelor, one of America’s largest and beloved ski resorts, was put up for sale in August of 2024 after two decades of contentious corporate ownership. Sensing a sliver of opportunity, a high school teacher, a housing appraiser and local home builder launched a community campaign to put this ski hill back in the hands of locals. What started as a Facebook thread, snowballed into a legitimate...