The Joy Trip Project

An interview with adventure filmmaker Bryan Smith It’s been more than a month since the last podcast. Thanks to everyone for all the emails and Facebook messages asking for the next edition. After an action packed first season of production, the realities of life came crashing down like a devastating wave. The recession of 2009 made times a bit tough. Simply put the project was placed indefinite hold while I scrambled together a few odd writing jobs through the end of December and all of January. I had to work to make enough cash to pay our property tax bill. I’m happy to say that I recently wrote a fat check to city of Madison and now the project is back on track. I’ve learned a lot through that first season. With the collapse of traditional media, as newspapers and magazine continue to fold up under the weight of an antiquated model of communication, I’ve discovered that this form of storytelling, sharing music, art and adventure online is the wave of the future. With many creative souls out there building new high quality content for Internet there’s no shortage of great stories to tell. If you’ve been following along on the blog and on Facebook, you’ll know that I’ve been more than a little busy still traveling and finding new subjects to share with you. And in the process I’ve become thoroughly inspired by the work of many others who are pushing the boundaries of creative expression as they explore the heights and depths of the human spirit. You’ve heard me mention my friend Fitz Cahall. He’s the creator of my favorite podcast The Dirtbag Diaries. Fitz has new project that recently posted the Internet, a series of short films that depict the lives of adventurers chasing their passion through course of a year, a season. I connected with Fitz toward the end of last year during the Banff Mountain Film Festival. There I saw the premiere edition of the 22 part film series The Season. It’s an exciting yet, moderately paced thoughtful contemplation on what motivates ordinary people who do exceptional things in the outdoors. At the Banff Centre for mountain culture, in Alberta Canada, I also met Fitz’s partner co-producer and director of the Season Bryan Smith. Produced exclusively for distribution online, the Season brings Internet adventure storytelling to a new level. Directed by Bryan Smith this new film series illustrates the narrative behind the lives of people like each of us who aspire to lead a rich live in adventure. The Season Trailer from Fitz Cahall on Vimeo. The Season produced by Bryan Smith and Fitz Cahall premieres online at www.theseasontv.com. Music this week by Jake Shimabukuro. Special thanks to the New Belgium Brewing Company for underwriting travel expenses to Banff that made this podcast possible. Also thanks to our sponsors, Recreational Equipment Inc, REI and Patagonia. We don’t take money from just anyone. Sponsors of the Joy Trip Project support our mission of an active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and community involvement. Support us by supporting them.

Now that winter is here it’s a good opportunity to discover that despite the cold there were many opportunities to enjoy your time outside. Hopefully you get out to ski or ice climb or skate or make angles in the snow.  By far one of the coolest moments I had last winter was the better part of a morning I spent riding through the woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on a dog sled. I’m not sure what I expected but I can tell you that it was nothing like anything I could have imagined. It was one of those days in winter when the overcast sky ironically blocks out the sun’s rays but still traps the ambient heat of the air. There was no wind. So the temperature was a pure 20 degrees. Everything, the sky, the leafless trees, the ground packed in ice and snow seemed cast in monochromatic shades of black, gray and white. Most every aspect of the landscape was utterly still. But piercing the silence came the sound of barking dogs. Not the least bit disturbing, the noise the dogs made seemed a natural part of this particular environment, like a pack of wolves answer the call the of wild. Each of the dogs yipped and yelped their excitement because as I came to discover pulling a sled in flashes of fangs, claws and muscle along these frozen trails is exactly what they were born to do. I would find that riding a dog sled is as thrilling and natural an experience as you can have. Music this week provided The Conductive Alliance This podcast is brought to you thanks to the generous support of Travel Michigan who provided transportation and lodging assistance to make this joy trip possible. Learn more about other travel opportunities throughout the mitten state at www.Michigan.org

An interview with urban revitalization strategist Majora Carter JTP: Delegates from about 190 countries are gathering over the next two weeks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Although this is a landmark event, the largest meeting ever to discuss the environmental future of our planet. I’m a little concerned that we may not be talking about the most important issues. The other night on NPR David Kestenbaum reported on the first day of the conference. In his report on All Things Considered he said everyone pretty much agrees that we have to do something about climate change. But how I see it where the problem lies is that the delegates also seem to share the same disagreements NPR: In fact most of the disagreements, they’re all about money. Developing countries like Bolivia are arguing “Hey The global warming problem? you in the developed world made it. So to solve it you’re going to have to give us money to adapt and to keep our emissions down as we grow. JTP: The industrial growth that caused the climate change crisis in the first place will apparently continue. You see it seems that the Copenhagen delegates are really only arguing about who gets to continue to pollute the atmosphere with carbon gas emissions and how much. The conversation so far seems to be relegated to trading carbon credits for cash so the developing world can continue to build factories and produce consumer goods. But at what cost? What about the environment? And what about millions of disenfranchised people in the U.S. and around the world that will be most directly impacted as our planet’s climate continues to change in the wake of human progress? I won’t be attending the conference in Copenhagen. But a few weeks ago I did attend the Breaking the Color Barrier to the Great Outdoors conference in Atlanta. A few hundred African American Environmentalist gathered to talk among other things about the role people of color can play in protecting the natural world. There I met Majora Carter, the 2005 winner of the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. She received $500,000 to developed her ideas on creating sustainable urban communities. And while we didn’t talk about Copenhagen in particular Carter has a rather unique perspective how best to curb some of the social effects of Climate Change. Carter: The McArthur Foundation dubbed me an urban revitalization strategist. Which I love, because of the work that I did around pioneering one of the first green jobs training systems in the country, really doing community based, led project development in one of the poorest congressional districts in the country that’s also one of the most environmentally challenged. And the idea was that you can do development that met both the environmental as well as economic needs of a very poor communities and give them the tools they need to enjoy it and be a part of its development. JTP: The environmental issues that our planet faces aren’t limited to carbon emissions. Though green houses gases are indeed the primary cause of global warming it’s the institutions and practices of human behavior that create them. Carter believes that we need to develop community based initiatives that produce green jobs and allow ordinary people take an active part in the cessation carbon emitting industries.

An interview with climber/artist Jeremy Collins There’s a point in the human experience when thought, emotion and action combine. It’s at that moment when we create a unique expression of utter and sublime beauty. Share it with others and it becomes art. In the world of adventure, on high mountain peaks or across vast tracts of rocky desert, art takes the form of photography, filmmaking, poetry and literature. But in the hands of Jeremy Collins, a self-described climber artist, the thoughts, emotions and actions of climbing combine to become breathtaking paintings, drawing and illustrations. A rare and emerging talent in the world of adventure art, Jeremy is a frequent contributor to magazines and books. He also creates prints for commercial distribution. In this video edition of the Joy Trip Project Jeremy shares the story behind his passion for the outdoors and inspires those who see his work to follow along on the journey. New music this weeks by Sufjan Stevens and Jake Shimabukro. The Joy Trip Project is brought to you thank to generous support of our sponsors Recreational Equipment Inc. and Patagonia. We don’t take many from just anyone. Sponsors of the Joy Trip Project support our mission of an active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and community involvement. Support us by supporting them. Thanks for listening. But y we want to hear from YOU! Please drops us message by email at info@joytripproject.com. Or find us on Facebook. Share your pictures, your stories, share your passions for outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving, and practices of sustainable living. You just might inspire our next Joy Trip together. But most of all don’t forget to tell your friend! Until next time, take care.

An interview with Rick Ridgeway In 1978 Rick Ridgeway was on the first American team to reach the summit of K2, the second highest mountain in the world. After a long career as a professional adventurer Ridgeway is now vice president of environmental initiatives at the outdoor clothing company Patagonia. Today he’s devoting his life to the preservation of wildlife corridors across North America. Working with a coalition of environmental protection groups and major corporations Ridgeway is helping to establish and maintain clear pathways that allow animal species to travel freely from one habitat to another. Called Freedom To Roam this program aims to raise awareness for the importance of wildlife protection by telling the stories of the animals themselves. Like humans animals have the same inherent need to move from place to place. Species such as caribou, wolves, elk and mountain lions traverse the landscape traveling hundreds of miles between grounds used for breading, hunting or grazing. And in some cases just like humans, to simply live out their lives in the joyful pursuit of happiness. But in our rush to develop and civilize the natural world human beings are disrupting wildlife corridors through which these animals pass from one habitat to the next. And in the process we’re putting at risk our own future on the planet. In this edition of the Joy Trip Project environmental activist Rick Ridgeway shares the story behind his work to protect these passageways while defending our Freedom to Roam. Music this week by Sly Joe and the Smooth Operators The Joy Trip Project is brought to you thank to generous support of our sponsors Recreational Equipment Inc. REI and Patagonia. We don’t take many from just anyone. Sponsors of the Joy Trip Project support our mission of an active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and community involvement. Support us by supporting them.

A Joy Trip Flashback: Remembering Todd Skinner I got an email from an old friend, Amy Skinner.We hadn’t connected in a while so it really good to hear from her. Her message read, “Thought you might get a kick out of my son's third grade writing assignment. We're going to have to have a little talk about plagiarism, but it's apparent that he has listened to your podcast many times.  I have it on my ipod and he loves to listen to it.” In the body of the message Amy included a scanned image of her son Jake’s writing assignment. Written in pencil on wide ruled paper, the little boy liberally quoted without attribution from a story I produced in 2006. I have to say I didn’t mind at all. In fact I was touched to point where I was almost brought to tears, because Jake’s writing assignment quoted from the story I produced on his father’s memorial service. They say that imitation is the sincerest from of flattery. Jake’s use of my words from this story let me know that in a small way I’ve helped him to remember his father. Todd Skinner was a good friend and three years after his death many people still remember him and what he meant to the outdoor community. And just so we don’t forget in this special edition of the podcast I’m bringing you a Joy Trip flashback, a celebration of a life well lived. Music by the band Hot Buttered Rum and Jake Shimabukuro. This podcast was originally produced in 2006 for the outdoor industry online trade magazine Specialty News, also know as SNEWS find them online at www.SNEWSnet.com The Joy Trip Project is brought to you thank to generous support of our sponsors Recreational Equipment Inc. REI and Patagonia. We don’t take many from just anyone. Sponsors of the Joy Trip Project support our mission of an active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and community involvement. Support us by supporting them.

An interview with mountaineer Peter Athans We’ve explored much of the modern world. Today very little is left to tempt the imagination. We’ve succeeded in climbing the highest mountains. We’ve traveled to the depths of the ocean. There’s not much of our planet that we haven’t seen. It would seem then now that what remains of adventure, at least on earth, isn’t to discover where human beings have yet to go but instead where we’ve been. A new film by produced in cooperation PBS and National Geographic takes a look at the discovery and exploration of an ancient civilization. The new film The Secrets of Shangri-La: Quest for Secret Caves premiered at the 2009 Banff Mountain Film Festival.  In this edition of The Joy Trip Project producer and professional mountain guide Peter Athans takes us on an amazing journey to reveal the great mysteries of a long-ago culture once forgotten. New music this week by Chad Farran from his album Another Ride. Find his online at www.chadfarran.com. This podcast is brought to you thank to generous support of our sponsors Recreational Equipment Inc. REI and Patagonia. Special thanks to the New Belgium Brewing Company for underwriting in part travel expenses to Banff to make this edition possible. We don’t take money from just anyone. Sponsors of the Joy Trip Project support our mission of an active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and community involvement. Support us by supporting them.

An interview with Banff Mountain Literature Award winner Steve House Leading alpinist Reinhold Messner once called Steve House “the best high altitude climber in the world today.” That’s no small praise coming from the first man to solo the summit of Everest without oxygen. In his late 30s House has had a distinguished career ascending the most challenging routes on many of the highest mountains in the world. Just after the release of his new memoir Beyond the Mountain House shared his thoughts on his earliest days in the sport. "The real turning point for me in my climbing career, and I talk about this in the book, and I think it was an important moment for me," House said. "I decided after high school to take a year and do a student exchange. And got sent to Yugoslavia." Originally House I had hoped to go to France. Instead he spent a year in the mountain region once known as Slovenia. "I was there for a couple of months, super board! As a kid I didn't understand the language having a really a hard time making friends. And climbing was my deliverance from all that," he said. "You don't need to communicate that much with language when you're going climbing with somebody. I found and joined a climbing club there and I wound up dropping out of school and spent that whole summer climbing." House said that it was at this point when for him the hook for climbing was set. He’d go one to earn an ecology degree from Evergreen State University in Olympia Washington and from there he’d become a professional mountain guide, leading expeditions and climbing solo while pushing the boundaries of high altitude adventure. In this edition of The Joy Trip Project Steve House tells the story behind his award winning book. Music this week by Jake Shimabukuro from the album Dragon. Find him online at: www.jakeshimabukuro.com The Joy Trip Project is brought to thanks to the generous support of our sponsors Recreational Equipment Inc. REI and Patagonia. We don’t take money from just anyone. Supporters of this podcast share our mission of better living through an active healthy lifestyle in balance with nature and the communities in which we live. Special thanks this week to New Belgium Brewing Company for underwriting travel expenses during The 2009 Banff Mountain Film Festival.

Empowered women like Kim Reynolds call themselves what they like. This Chick runs a business out of Colorado showing other women how to climb rock and ice called Chicks Rock. "It’s fun. I think sharing life experiences, climbing experiences, there’s a certain comradery," Reynolds said. " Someone might have the same challenges or same talents or whatever as I as do and it’s nice to experience that with other women." A few weeks ago Kim, a certified mountain guide and life coach, lead a small group of women on a rock climbing trip to a local crag about 40 miles north of Madison, Wisconsin,  a spot called Devil’s Lake. I only came out for the day to take pictures and ask a few questions. Because on this trip there were no men allowed. "I think men are fun. I don’t want to leave them out, but there’s also a trend toward more and more women’s trips I think," Reynolds said. "And women wanting to do things with other women and learn from other women and have that opportunity." In the world of adventure women are busting out on their own. They’re leaving husbands, boyfriends and children at home to discover their strengths and celebrate the feminine side of the wild. Hear their story in this edition of The Joy Trip Project. New music this week by:

If you’ve been watching television or checking your favorite web sites lately, you’ve noticed one number keeps popping up. On October 24rd in particular people around the world have been plastering the number 350 on billboards, marching with it on signs and performing physical stunts to share this number with as many people as possible. Groups numbering in the thousands have gathered across the U.S. and in many countries to spell out 350 on surfaces from grassy fields, to mountain summits, to the open ocean. Writer and environmental activist Bill McKibben says 350 is a number we all need to be aware of. "It’s the most important number in the world. It’s the amount of carbon, that’s measured in parts per million, that the scientists now say is the most we can have in the atmosphere and maintain the civilization that we now enjoy," McKibben said. "We’re past that number already. We need to get back to it. That’s why the stakes are so urgent." Back in 1988 McKibben made one of the earliest cases outlining the modern crisis known now as global warming. His book “The End of Nature,” chronicled the research that followed the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to human activity and the resulting temperature increase around the world. Today this climate change threatens life on our planet putting at risk every plant and animal species including human beings. As CO2 levels exceed 350 parts per million McKibben warns that we have past the point where we can do nothing and not face dire consequences. Through a program called 350.org he aims to lead an international movement to raise awareness for the plight of global warming and what individuals, institutions and governments can do the stop it. Music this week by The Ahn Trio from the album Lullaby For My Favorite Insomniac . Find their playlist and a schedule of upcoming shows online at www.AhnTrio.com. The Joy Trip Project is brought to thanks to the generous support of our sponsors Recreational Equipment Inc. REI and Patagonia. We don’t take money from just anyone. Supporters of this podcast share our mission of better living through an active healthy lifestyle in balance with nature and the communities in which we live. You can support us by supporting them. Visit their websites:

There’s a good chance that you’re one of those creative types. I’ll bet you’re the kind of person who derives a great deal of satisfaction from what you can make or do with your hands. You might play an instrument or you draw or maybe you like sing. And sometimes while you’re cooking I imagine you’ve been known to dance a little to the music on your CD player while you stir a pot of spaghetti sauce. And if don’t have one those jobs where paint, design clothes or build models, or even if you do in spare time you probably like to hike or climb or maybe mountain bike. All these are the many things we do express ourselves, how we perform to show the world who we really are. Knowing how to express yourself is an incredible gift and a talent Carr Hagerman learned to develop at early age.When he was 14 Carr started working as a street performer at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Using improvisational comedy and a host of characters he played off the energy of the crowds he entertained to create something special out of nothing but human interaction. Today Hagerman is the creative director for Ontend Creative Partners, a corporate consultation firm, and he uses his experiences as street performer to change how people in the professional world think about the whimsical spirit of playful creativity. He's also the co-author of the book "Top Performer: A bold approach to sales and service." I had the pleasure of meeting Hagerman a few months ago at the Outdoor Retailers Summer Market in Salt Lake City Utah. In this interview he shares some pretty amazing ideas on the serious business of play. Music this week by Cirque Du Soleil is from the album and show Alegria. The Joy Trip Project is brought to thanks to generous support of our sponsors

An interview with ultra-distance runner Diane Van Deren It’s been my pleasure to interview some of the best endurance athletes in world. I’ve spoken to high altitude climbers like Conrad Anker and Ed Viesturs, extreme skiers like Scott Schimdt and ultra marathon runners like Tim Twietmeyer and Dean Karnazes. These men are incredibly tough individuals.  And with humility and grace all have made their mark on the world by pushing their bodies past the breaking point to achieve amazing feats of strength against incredible odds. But I have to tell you that one of the most inspiring stories I’ve ever heard is that of a woman named Diane Van Deren. Diane is consistently among the top finishers in some of the most rugged and challenging long distance trail running events in the world. She most recently completed the Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 430 mile unsupported race in Alaska along the dogsled route of the Iditarod. As she ran in temperatures 40 degrees below zero, Diane hauled over  50 pounds of food and equipment behind her in a sled. But what’s more impressive to me is that this wife and mother of three accomplished this and most of her career highlights after a long and painful battle with epilepsy. This 2007 interview with Diane Van Deren first ran on the outdoor industry podcast SNEWS-Live. Two years later Diane is still going strong and is now traveling the country on a speaking tour. In advance of her appearance here in Madison, I’m rerunning our conversation to share with you her amazing journey. Diane will be speaking in Madison, Wisconsin  on October 7th at the Orpheum Theater at 7PM. For Tickets visit: http://thenorthface.inticketing.com/events/45213/DIANE-VAN-DEREN-KARINA-HOLLEKIM--Beyond-the-Edge-Risk-R- New music this week by Sly Joe & the Smooth Operators comes courtesy of the podsafe music network For more information on the treatment of spinal cord and brain injuries at Craig Hospital visit www.craighospital.org.

Back in January of 2009 I had the pleasure of speaking to Ken Burns. He sat with me for an interview about his documentary film "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." A program that first aired last year on PBS television stations nation wide this five-part series reveals in stunning detail some amazing historical facts. But what came out of that conversation was an awareness for the role people of color played in the creation of my favorite wild and scenic places. At the turn of 20th century more than 400 members of the 9th and 10th Divisions of the U.S. Cavalry, African-Americans know as the Buffalo Soldiers, actively patrolled the newly designated National Parks of Yellowstone, Yosemite and Sequoia. These men performed many of the same duties tasked today to the National Park Service. The Buffalo Soldiers were in effect among the world's first park rangers. But over the last 100 years African-Americans and other minority groups have had few opportunities to visit the National Parks. Practices of racial discrimination and institutional segregation restricted most people of color to cities across America. And even after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s made it possible for minorities to roam freely throughout the county, persistent memory of past injustices and the loss of outdoor recreation traditions had made full integration of our National Parks difficult to this day. How ironic it is that so few African-Americans visit the very parks their ancestors helped to create. This  piece produced for the Public Radio International program To The Best of Our Knowledge tell the history of the Buffalo Soldiers and shares the meaning behind their enduring legacy. Many thanks to Recreational Equipment Inc. for their support in the production of this story.

It’s eight hours after the conclusion of the Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon. And on the streets of Madison all that remains is a litter of paper cups and discarded plastic water bottles. <<Cross fade sound of leaf blower>> A city maintenance man sweeps up the clutter with a leaf blower in front of the State Capital building as the 2009 Triathlon season for many comes to an end. But 50 yards away at the Monona Terrace the 2010 Triathlon season is just beginning.   Jose Aguilar was the very person to get in line for next years’ Ironman. When did his triathlon training begin? Aguilar_001 About 11PM last night While many of this season’s triathletes were still crossing the finish line Aguilar and several others were getting into position for a spot in next year’s race. The Ironman training begins long before race day Aguilar_002 The way it works, they let the volunteers register first. And then when they’re done, the general people register. And then when this process is done, they open registration online. By 8AM the line to register is wrapped around the lower level of the Monona Terrace in two directions. Volunteers who helped the day before get first dibs on the coveted positions. Aguilar, a massage therapist from Chicago, camped out over night to better his chances. Aguilar_003 I’m a little worried now. They said there were 3,000 volunteers yesterday. It almost looks like they’re all here. The Wisconsin race is one of the popular triathlons in the Ironman series. Athletes from across the United States and around the world come each year to swim 2.4 miles on Lake Monona, ride 112 miles through the Dane County countryside and run 26.2 miles a full marathon along the streets of Madison 140.6 miles in all. Aguilar_004 I’ve done several other Ironmen before and I hear a lot of good stories about this course, particularly the bike segment, how technical it is, how challenging it is. And also the crowd on the run, they’re pretty intense. The exciting event inspires professional and amateur athletes alike to commit a lot of their time and energy to getting ready. Nathan Chandler also from Chicago was second in line behind Aguilar. He says Ironman isn’t just a one-day race. Chandler_001 Half the battle of Ironman… it’s a physical battle obviously, but it’s also a mental battle. So you know if you can do the training you can probably do the race. But the training is the race. So for everyone standing in line their Ironman training starts now. Beginning a year in advance their race-day preparations will be the end result of decisions they make today. But Chandler says it’s important to keep in perspective the cumulative 140.6 miles combined swim, bike and run is a process you have to take one day at a time. Chandler_002 You can’t look too far in advance. You know I’ve learned you have to keep short-term goals. And meet those short term goals. So you’ve got to forget about the 140.6 and worry about the weekly training goals. Fortunately Chandler has a solid training partner in his sister Kristin Reingruber. She says sharing the goal of an Ironman finish will keep them both on track. Reingruber_001 It helps to have that extra person. You can call somebody to go on a bike ride. You don’t have to go out a ride 100 miles by yourself. It helps to have that training partner. So I think if we can do stuff together a little bit hear and there it will help us both, both of us stay motivated. David Craig a Madison insurance salesman said training with a partner helped to get him through his first season to complete a shorter race....

For more than 30 years documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has revealed many of the great mysteries of our uniquely American culture. Like an archaeologist he uncovers layers of time to show us through his films the artifacts of our not so distant past that shed light on the course events that has brought us to where we are today. In his latest film, The National Parks: America’s Best which airs on PBS stations nationwide on September 27th Burns demonstrates that the preservation and protection of our wild and scenic places embody the most cherished ideals our American heritage and the legacy of our future. In this podcast edition of the Joy Trip Project Burns shares the story behind this inspiring new documentary film.   Music provided by the Conductive Alliance