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MtnMeister — Outdoor
MtnMeister

A high altitude mountaineer travels through sub-zero temperatures, scales treacherous terrain, and carries hundreds of pounds of supplies. Many of us have very little in common with this person. We don’t need to worry about the lack of oxygen in the air or the extent of frostbite in our toes.

Yet, we are all human. There are certain ideas which apply to all of us, no matter if we are standing at 29,029 feet or sea level. Why is it important to step outside of our comfort zone? How do we weigh risk vs. reward? What psychological biases impact our behavior and decision making? On MtnMeister, we explore these ideas by talking with those who have found answers in the extremes.

Ben Schenck, the host of MtnMeister (pronounced Mountain Meister), asks thought-provoking and sometimes uncomfortable questions that you won’t hear in a typical interview. Notable guests include Alex Honnold, Sasha DiGiulian, Ueli Steck, Jeremy Jones, Lynn Hill, Conrad Anker, Aaron Gwin and other adventurers in climbing, skiing, hiking, biking, and everything else in the mountains.

Latest Episodes:

#186 Pokemon GO, augmented reality, and how it affects our lives outside with Kelly Davis Oct 12, 2016

Show notes

Augmented reality is impacting the way we participate in the outdoors. Consider Pokemon GO, which gained worldwide appeal in a matter of days and encouraged millions of people to go outside. Yet, is this the best way to promote outdoor participation? While there have been significant innovations in headsets, Google Glass, and the smartphone, the technology is only in it's infancy. How will Pokemon GO and other forms of augmented reality change our outdoor experiences? Kelly Davis is optimistic. In this episode, we talk about the opportunities, business implications, and what’s worrisome about this rapidly evolving movement. Kelly Davis is the director of research at Snowsports Industries America, or SIA. SIA is the non-profit, North American member-owned trade association representing suppliers of consumer snow sports with constituents in the retailer, rep and resort communities.

#185 Ueli Steck's training and the 82 Summits Challenge Oct 05, 2016

Show notes

Ueli Steck is well known for his speed ascents where he climbs routes in a few hours that take most climbers a few days. In his 82 Summits Challenge, the "Swiss Machine" climbed all 82 4,000 meter peaks in the Alps in two months. If that wasn't enough, he connected all of the peaks in a self-powered manner: hiking, biking, and running. I caught up with Ueli at MetroROCK, a climbing gym right outside of Boston while he was on a 2.5 week speaking tour presented by Alpina Watches and American Alpine Club

In the first 10 minutes of this episode you’ll hear my chat with Ueli at the gym. What makes him so good? What can we learn from the "Swiss Machine's" training plan that we can apply to our own version of an 82 Summits Challenge? After that, you’ll hear Ueli’s presentation at the Somerville Theatre in Boston. MtnMeister's sponsor, Stio, was founded to inspire connection with outdoors through beautiful, functional products infused with mountain soul. For 20% off, use the code "meister" at checkout at http://www.stio.com/ To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/products/QiebU/

#184 GEAR GIVEAWAY at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2016 Aug 15, 2016

Show notes

It's our semi-annual GEAR GIVEAWAY episode!

Twice a year, we attend the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City to cover new products, technologies, and companies in the outdoors industry. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it to the show this year, but we sent Roommate Max to fill in.

If this is your first time listening to our gear giveaway episode, here’s how it works. In exchange for being featured on today’s episode, each company has agreed to give away free gear to our listeners. These are all real products that are either currently on the market or will be - they aren’t promotional. To win the free gear, all you have to do is email me at ben@mtnmeister.com. The first person who requests it, gets it. You can only win one prize, and after you win it, you cannot exchange it. Winners must be in the USA.

22 companies, $5,000+ in prizes, 30+ winners!

For 20% from our sponsor Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout at bigagnes.com

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

#183 Outdoor Retailer Gear Giveaway Preview Aug 04, 2016

Show notes

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2016 will be in Salt Lake City from August 3-6. MtnMeister is there to create our semi-annual gear giveaway episode, where we give thousands of dollars of free gear to our listeners.

Here's how the episode works: In exchange for telling you, the outdoors consumer, about their latest and greatest product or technology, companies agree to give away prizes. To win the gear, all you have to do is email ben@mtnmeister.com and say which specific piece of gear you want. You can only win one prize, and it cannot be replaced with a different prize after you win it.

Those who listen early have a significant advantage. We are offering you the opportunity to purchase information about the episode's release (the date, a time window, or the EXACT date and time).

Purchase the information here: http://mtnmeister.com/gear-giveaway-at-summer-or-outdoor-retailer-2016/

For 20% off from our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout at bigagnes.com.

#182 Meister update: Legally blind ultrarunner Jason Romero runs across America Jul 29, 2016

Show notes

On March 24th, legally blind ultrarunner Jason Romero set off on an audacious project: running across America. We originally spoke with Jason before he started the project (Vision Run USA) in episode #171, and in this episode, we follow up with him to hear how it went. In total, Jason traveled 3,063 miles or 51.5 miles a day for 60 days.

For 20% off from our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout at https://www.bigagnes.com/

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

Join the American Alpine Club and use the code "meister" for a special AAC gift - https://americanalpineclub.org/

(R) #164 The Real Hiking Viking with Tom "Jabba" Gathman Jul 20, 2016

Show notes

Tom Gathman aka Jabba is @TheRealHikingViking. At the time of this recording, he was attempting a southbound winter thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. In 2013 he thru-hiked the AT with fellow combat veterans in the Warrior Hike and in 2014 the 3,100 mile Continental Divide trail. In this interview, we talk with Tom about his progress thus far, faulty headlines, and whether his beard has contributed to his success as The Real Hiking Viking.

#181 Latino Outdoors con José González Jul 13, 2016

Show notes

In a little more than a month, America’s National Parks System will celebrate its 100th birthday. Outdoors enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate on the centennial: 376 protected areas covering over 83 million acres. But there's still room for improvement. When you look at the people who recreate in America’s national parks, the demographics don't match the diversity that is so prominent in the United States. José González is out to change that. He leads an organization called Latino Outdoors, whose mission is to "connect familias and youth with nature, engage and inspire Latino leadership, empower communities to explore and share their stories in defining the Latino Outdoors identity." More on Latino Outdoors - http://latinooutdoors.org/ 20% off at bigagnes.com with the promo-code "meister" at checkout. Purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

(R) #156 Five star camping cuisine with Expedition Chef Mary Brent Galyean Jun 29, 2016

Show notes

Mary Brent Galyean is an expedition chef. She cooks some of the tastiest dishes you'll ever eat in places that very few people have ever been. Chef MB does it all without electricity and running water, and I had the wonderful opportunity to taste this five star cuisine on the Gauley River in West Virginia. Courses included but were not limited to lamb sliders, salmon and acorn squash poached in spiced honey, and the crowd favorite sweet potato and red apple au gratin.

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

To receive 20% off our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at checkout here - https://www.bigagnes.com/

#180 Taking flight with JT Holmes Jun 22, 2016

Show notes

JT Holmes is an extreme athlete who has undertaken many different pursuits, some of which include skiing, BASE jumping, and speedriding (a hybrid of paragliding and skiing). In today's discussion, we’ll cover topics like risk, skill vs. luck, and how we tend to judge others for decisions that may not have any impact on us.

For pictures, videos, and other resources, go to JT's Meister Profile page here - http://mtnmeister.com/meister/JT-Holmes

To purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

For 20% off Big Agnes, go to bigagnes.com and use the code "meister" at checkout.

2016 goals update and (R) #149 The deepest man on Earth with Herbert Nitsch Jun 15, 2016

Show notes

The first few minutes of this episode includes an update on my BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) in 2016 which was to qualify for the 2017 Boston Marathon.

For 20% off from our sponsor, Big Agnes, use the code "meister" at bigagnes.com

To buy a MtnMeister t-shirt, go here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

What is the furthest you have gone under the water with a single breath? 15 feet? 20 feet? 30 feet? For our guest today, Herbert Nitsch, the answer is 830 feet. Herbert Nitsch is the current free diving world record holder and “the deepest man on earth". He holds 33 world records in all free diving disciplines - an unrivaled feat to date - which range from using weights and flotation to assist to no assistance at all.

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