Wild Ideas Worth Living

Earlier this summer, host Shelby Stanger recorded a live episode of Wild Ideas Worth Living with Alex Honnold at the Outside Festival in Denver, Colorado. Alex is one of the most well-known climbers in the world, best known for his free solo climb of El Capitan— the 3,000-foot vertical wall of granite in Yosemite National Park. In this conversation, Shelby talks to Alex about the projects he’s cha...

Welcome to the Wild Ideas Worth Living Summer Camp Series! In these bonus episodes, we’re exploring camping beyond the traditional tent—from bikepacking and packrafting to camping with kids and dispersed car camping. Felicia Fullwood is an adventure photographer and van lifer who left her corporate career to embrace the freedom of dispersed camping (also known as wild camping) and life on the road...

Adam Pawlikiewicz Mesa is an endurance mountain athlete and bikepacker who has explored remote regions across Latin America and the U.S. After graduating college, he turned down a financial consulting career to pursue a transformative journey on two wheels. Now a full-time athlete and visual storyteller, Adam documents his adventures through Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, capturing the landscapes, cul...

Welcome to the Wild Ideas Worth Living Summer Camp Series! In these bonus episodes, we’re exploring camping beyond the traditional tent—from bikepacking and packrafting to camping with kids and dispersed car camping. Kevin Frias is a cyclist and bikepacker who's taken on multi-day adventures through deserts, mountains, and everything in between. Whether he's navigating gnarly weather or unexpected...

Mina Guli is a water advocate and ultrarunner who has dedicated her life to solving one of the world’s most urgent issues—the global water crisis. She runs marathons all over the world to raise awareness, logging thousands of miles across deserts and along rivers to change the way people, companies, and governments think about water. Connect with Mina: Website Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: ...

Welcome to the Wild Ideas Worth Living Summer Camp Series! In these bonus episodes, we’re exploring camping beyond the traditional tent—from bikepacking and packrafting to camping with kids and dispersed car camping. Hailey Terry is a mom of three young kids who shares her family's outdoor adventures online. In this episode, Hailey teaches us that with a little preparation and a go-with-the-flow m...

Lise Wortley retraces the footsteps of historical women explorers whose achievements have long been overlooked. To fully immerse herself in their experiences, she replicates the clothing and equipment used over a century ago, avoiding modern gear to see the world as they did. Through these journeys, she shines a light on their remarkable stories and brings their legacies back into focus. Connect w...

Welcome to the Wild Ideas Worth Living Summer Camp Series! In these bonus episodes, we’re exploring camping beyond the traditional tent—from bikepacking and packrafting to camping with kids and dispersed car camping. Today, we're diving into the world of water-based camping with MAK and Owen, the founders of Bound For Nowhere— a popular adventure blog, social media community, and storytelling bran...

Sean Jansen, a lifelong surfer and adventurer, standup paddled over 1,000 miles along the coast of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula with his camping gear, food, and camera strapped to his board. His goal was to document the journey and raise awareness about the vaquita, an endangered porpoise native to the region. Connect with Sean:  Website  Instagram Purchase Sean's book, Paddling with Porpoise Thank you...

Jessa Williams is the founder of Intrsxtn Surf, a Los Angeles-based surf collective dedicated to empowering Black women and women of color through surfing. After discovering the ocean as a space for healing and self-discovery, she launched Intrsxtn just one year after learning to surf. Since then, she has introduced hundreds of women to the waves, creating a supportive community that challenges tr...

Melissa Arnot Reid is a legendary American mountaineer, adventure guide, and author who has summited Mount Everest six times—more than any other American woman. She was the first American woman to climb and descend Everest without supplemental oxygen, pushing the limits of human endurance. Through extreme challenges and high-risk climbs, Melissa has found strength, resilience, and purpose in the m...

David Kilgore has been a lifelong runner who found his stride in the world of ultra marathons in his 20s. Rather than pursue running as his sole profession, he charted a unique course— joining the early team at On Running while continuing to compete at an elite level. From setting records to winning the Great World Race twice, David's journey has made him a standout in the global running community...

Ayesha McGowan went from teaching music and delivering packages on a bike to shattering barriers in professional cycling, becoming the first African American female road cyclist in 2021. Though health challenges led to early retirement, Ayesha is now focused on empowering women of color in cycling and expanding access to the sport. Connect with Ayesha:  Instagram  A Quick Brown Fox website  Thank...

Shyanne Orvis is a Colorado-based fly fishing guide and content creator whose deep connection to nature shapes both her career and her approach to motherhood. From the rivers of Carbondale to destinations around the world, she’s building an inclusive community on the water—inviting more women to experience the transformative power of fly fishing. Connect with Shyanne:  Website  Instagram  Purchase...

Harvey Lewis is an elite ultra runner and Guinness World Record holder for most laps completed at Big’s Backyard Ultra, a race where athletes run a 4.167-mile loop every hour until only one remains. Known for his endurance, strategy, and mental resilience, Lewis has become a defining figure in the world of ultra distance running. Connect with Harvey:  Instagram  If you enjoyed this episode, listen...

Liz Thomas is one of the most accomplished hikers in the U.S. She's completed the Triple Crown and set a self-supported, fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail in 2011. Liz has a ton of experience in remote parts of the wilderness, but for the past 10 years, she's been creating and hiking long-distance routes in 15 cities around the U.S. Connect with Liz:  Website Instagram  Treeline Review ...

Stephanie Vermillion is a travel journalist and author whose fascination with stargazing led her to seek out even more adventures after the sun sets. Her latest book, 100 Nights of a Lifetime, is filled with suggestions for nocturnal adventures for anyone looking to experience nature from an entirely different perspective. Connect with Stephanie:  Website  Instagram  Check out Stephanie's new book...

Brooks Bash is an entrepreneur and endurance athlete known for pursuing extraordinary challenges. In 2023, he ran a relay from Canada to Mexico to promote his natural energy drink company, Earthy. Later that year, Brooks completed 100 marathons in 100 days, equivalent to running from L.A. to New York. Just three weeks after his 100th marathon, he tackled another feat, running a 320-mile race from...

Mo Beck is an elite climber who was born with a limb difference. For Mo, rock climbing is a puzzle, requiring her to find unique routes up the wall. Over the course of her career, Mo earned a spot on the national paralympic climbing team and has been a top tier competitor at countless national and international climbing events. Now, she's encouraging other adaptive climbers to rethink the limits o...

Knox Robinson is a unique running coach and founder of the Black Roses running group in New York City. His coaching methods, inspired by music, culture, and the urban environment, are unconventional and effective. The Black Roses practice like an elite track team, but instead of high-end facilities, they use urban areas like parks, city streets, and local trails as their training grounds. Connect...

Nick Schwanz and Spencer Scott are the visionary couple behind Solar Punk Farms in Guerneville, California. They transformed their lives from careers in brand strategy and bioengineering to create a community-focused, environmentally conscious farm.  Solar Punk Farms grows food and flowers, enabling Nick and Spencer to host memorable community gatherings and provide environmental education in hope...

Erik Weihenmayer made history in 2001 as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. By 2008, he had completed the Seven Summits, the tallest mountains on each continent. Since then, Erik has embraced a wide range of adventure sports from paragliding in the Rocky Mountains and ice climbing in Nepal to kayaking the length of the Grand Canyon. Connect with Erik:  Website Instagram No Barriers we...

Tara Dower has become one of America's top ultra runners, winning numerous 50 and 100-mile races and setting speed records on some of the nation's most challenging trails. In 2024, she achieved a monumental milestone by completing the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail, surpassing the previous fastest known time (FTK) by 13 hours. Connect with Tara:  Website Instagram YouTube Listen to the Camp Nowhere P...

Philip Henderson is a legendary outdoor instructor, adventurer, and mentor. With 30 years of experience leading expeditions and teaching sports like whitewater rafting, skiing, climbing, and mountaineering, Philip has made a significant impact in the outdoor community. In 2020, he was honored with the Outdoor Afro Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2022, he made history by leading the first all-Black...

In 2020, Tez Steinberg rowed roughly 2,700 miles from California to Hawaii. He spent 71 days on the water, facing bad weather and extreme isolation. Surprisingly, when he landed on Oahu, he decided he wanted to do it again. This time, he would row from Hawaii to Australia, more than twice as far as his first expedition.  Connect with Tez:  Website  Instagram   United World Challenge website & Inst...