Wild Ideas Worth Living

Libby DeLana began walking every day at age 50, while juggling her role as co-founder of an ad agency and parenting two teenage boys. What started as a one-month experiment became a 13-year streak of daily walks. Alongside walking, Libby embraced cold plunging as a way to reset her mind and body. These rituals helped her reinvent herself as an author, podcast host, model, and inspiration for others seeking clarity and transformation through movement.

Transcribed - Published: 26 August 2025

Albert Lin is a renowned explorer, scientist, and storyteller. He is best known for his role as the host of multiple National Geographic programs. Together with his team, he uses advanced technologies such as satellites, drones, ground penetrating radar, and cutting edge LiDAR to uncover ancient civilizations around the world.

Published: 19 August 2025

Ann Rose is a farmer living off the grid in rural North Carolina, where she’s spent most of her life deeply connected to the Appalachian Mountains and forests. After a series of droughts made farming more difficult, she found herself stuck and ready for change. At 58, she set out to kayak from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico. The journey brought unfamiliar waters, unpredictable weather, and more than a few alligators.

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2025

Amy & Dave Freeman are modern-day explorers who have spent over two decades on human-powered wilderness expeditions. In 2010, they completed a 12,000-mile journey across North America by canoe, kayak, and dog sled. Five years later, they lived off the grid for an entire year without re-entering society. No stores, no electricity, no roads, just the two of them, a nylon tent, and the frozen lakes and forests of Northern Minnesota.

Transcribed - Published: 5 August 2025

Robin Pacquing is a seasoned surfer based near Toronto, Canada, who has spent nearly two decades mastering the waves of the Great Lakes. Braving frigid temperatures and unpredictable swells, she’s become an expert in navigating one of the most unconventional surf scenes in the world. Robin is also the founder of Lake Surfistas, a grassroots organization that connects and supports women of all abilities who surf, SUP, and SUP surf on the Great Lakes.

Transcribed - Published: 29 July 2025

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 chasing now, how parenthood has shifted his relationship with adventure, and what his approach to free soloing looks like today.

Transcribed - Published: 22 July 2025

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. Since her first wild camping trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she’s built a thriving platform as a content creator, blogger, and outdoor enthusiast. On YouTube and Instagram, Felicia shares practical advice and inspiration for fellow travelers navigating van life and off-grid camping.

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2025

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, cultures, and people he encounters. His work blends endurance travel with powerful storytelling that inspires connection and exploration.

Transcribed - Published: 15 July 2025

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 setbacks, Kevin brings a steady optimism to the ride. His motto? A good map and a good attitude can take you a long way. In this episode, Kevin breaks down the essentials of bikepacking—from planning your first trip to the gear he trusts most on the trail.

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 July 2025

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 mindset, camping with younger kids can be both manageable and magical.

Transcribed - Published: 3 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2025

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 brand.

Transcribed - Published: 26 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 June 2025

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 traditional surf culture and celebrates inclusivity, resilience, and joy in the water.

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2025

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 mountains.

Transcribed - Published: 10 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

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 of what their bodies can do.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

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 hopes of making the sustainable revolution irresistible.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2025

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 conquering the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail, surpassing the previous fastest known time (FTK) by 13 hours.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2025

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 team up Mount Everest.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

A few years ago, Annijke Wade's career as a professional mountain biker was abruptly altered by an accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Since then, she has become a talented para-cyclist, riding a three-wheeled mountain bike and propelling herself forward by rotating her handlebars in small circles. Even though her relationship with cycling has changed over the years, Annijke continues to love the thrill and freedom of whipping down trails and venturing into the wilderness.

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2025

In the summer of 2023, West Hansen led a team of kayakers, known as The Arctic Cowboys, through the Northwest Passage, making history as the first people to cross it by human power. The journey took them 103 days to complete, during which they encountered polar bears, icebergs, and some of the most intense weather of their lives.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

Emily Ford, the queen of winter adventuring and frigid thru-hikes, shares her recent wild ideas and offers listeners tips and tricks for thriving in cold weather camping. Denver Green Vest, Justin Borak, weighs in on staying warm and optimizing battery life on winter trails.

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2025

Kimmy Fasani is a groundbreaking figure in women’s snowboarding, known for her fearless innovation and inspiring journey. She began competing nationally at just 15 and made history as the first woman to land a double backflip in a terrain park. Since becoming a mom six years ago, Kimmy has continued to break barriers for women in sports while navigating profound challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis. Through it all, Kimmy has shared her story with remarkable courage, empowering others along the way.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2025

Dr Jon Kedrowski is an adventure coach and seasoned mountaineer who helps athletes prepare for their biggest expeditions. John holds a PhD in Environmental, Geography, Weather, and Climate, and he's summited Mount Everest four times.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

On January 23, 2012, Felicity Aston made history as the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica. Her remarkable journey and extensive career as a Polar Explorer and Climate Researcher have taken her to some of the most remote and challenging environments on Earth.

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

In May of 2017, Hellah Sidibe set a goal for himself: to run for 10 minutes a day for two weeks. Little did he know that once he started, he wouldn't want to stop. Hellah has run every single day for the last seven and a half years.

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2025

Cody Townsend is one of America's most well-known and beloved professional skiers. In his 20s, Cody made a name for himself as a competitive alpine ski racer before starring in dozens of blockbuster ski movies. His fame skyrocketed in 2014 when he skied The Crack, a steep and narrow gully in Alaska. Following this feat, Cody embarked on an ambitious journey to ski the 50 classic lines in North America— a project that isn't quite finished and maybe never will be.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

About a decade ago, entrepreneur Karla Amador set her sights on completing 52 hikes in a year. She called this project "The 52 Hike Challenge." 10 years later, she's turned it into a national company that encourages thousands of participants to get outside.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

Will Gadd has spent his thirty-year career mastering the balance between risk management and innovation in extreme sports. He has set two paragliding distance records, won numerous ice climbing competitions, and achieved multiple first ascents. In 2015, Will became the first person to ice climb Niagara Falls.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2024

Jessie Krebs is a wilderness survival expert and Air Force veteran who prepares people for worst-case scenarios. Since her time in the Air Force, Jessie has used her experience to open her own wilderness survival school with a mission to share her knowledge with everyone, especially women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ folks, so they can more confidently, and safely explore the outdoors.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2024

12 years ago Martinus Evans went on his first run. Despite the initial struggle, he went on to complete his first marathon just 18 months later. Today, Martinus is a marathon runner, author, speaker, and the founder of the Slow AF Run Club, a community of over 40,000 members that motivates runners of all speeds to go after their big goals.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2024

Pat Gallant-Charette is a 73-year-old record-breaking marathon swimmer with nine Guinness World Records under her belt. From swimming across the English Channel to navigating Lake Ontario and Lake Zurich, Pat has proven that age is no barrier to big dreams. When she’s not taking on epic swims, you’ll find her tending to her garden, beekeeping, or tapping her own maple trees.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2024

In 2022, Dan Hobbs achieved the record as the fastest self-supported person to climb all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers— a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet in elevation— in just 14 days.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2024

Mario Rigby is a serial adventurer who pushes himself to his limit out in nature. He's kayaked across Lake Ontario, biked across the entire country of Canada and walked the length of Africa. No matter what kind of expedition he's on, the motivation remains the same, to witness the good in humanity and challenge others to see it as well.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2024

Angelina Huang is a former Team USA figure skater who made the bold decision to retire from the sport at just 18 years old. After taking a step back to reconnect with herself, Angelina found a new passion—wild ice skating, where her love for the ice was reignited by the beauty of natural landscapes around the world.

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2024

Comedian Matt Lyons— trail name Schmutz— is a thru-hiker who makes a living poking fun at outdoor enthusiasts. With a sharp wit and countless trail miles under his belt, Matt brings humor to everything from gear obsessions to the unpredictable mishaps of wilderness life.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2024

Denise Joi is a wildlife pilot and conservationist who’s taken her passion for the outdoors to the skies. Denise works alongside biologists to research, survey, and transport species in an effort to protect biodiversity. Her job is incredibly challenging and takes a lot of planning. But for Denise, it is beyond worth it.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2024

At 19, Jade Darmawangsa took on the wild challenge of surfing Pipeline—the most iconic and dangerous wave on the planet. But there were two major obstacles: she didn't know how to surf, and she couldn’t swim.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2024

Eric Carter is an alpine athlete and endurance coach who discovered the niche sport of ski mountaineering, or "skimo," and never looked back. Skimo involves skiing uphill in the backcountry and riding the slope back down. Eric also founded Ridgeline Athletics, where he helps mountain athletes chase their own wild outdoor adventures.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2024