Adventuring for Mere Mortals

Adventuring for Mere Mortals

By Adventuring for Mere MortalsSociety & Culture
Download on the App Store

Adventuring for Mere Mortals episodes

  • Episode 21 - The Dream Team with Jeff and Inez

    This month we chatted with two members of the Dream Team, a

    non-profit organization that uses cycling to provide young adults with
    opportunities to build confidence and set goals which culminates in riding the entirety of RAGBRAI. Jeff Van Genderen is the Executive Director of the Dream and Inez Chavez is a first-year member of the team. After introductions and a quick catch up, we get right into our main topic: everything about the Dream Team. We get a short run down on what the Dream Team is, what their goals are, what their training for RAGBRAI looks like, how they dealt with this year’s challenging RAGBRAI, then move into how both of our guests were introduced to the outdoors and then onto the mentorship that the Dream Team provides. We hear about the mentor-mentee relationship from both sides which was great to get a better understanding of the impact that it has for both groups. We then move into Trevor’s favorite questions and wrap things up.

    It was absolutely great having Jeff and Inez on the podcast to hear about the great work and lasting impact that the Dream Team has been doing and continues to do every year. For those that do RAGBRAI next year keep an eye out for the Dream Team and give them a shout from us.

    A bit more info on the Dream Team

    Dream Team Des Moines is a non-profit organization in central Iowa that provides young adults with opportunities to build confidence, set goals, and create a healthy lifestyle through mentor-based interactions centered around cycling.

    In March, a team of 50-60 teenagers start their five month journey to RAGBRAI, a week-long bike ride across Iowa each July. The riders work with caring volunteers to set goals, work hard, and dream big.

    The bicycle is used as a tool to inspire and motivate young people, encourage lifelong wellness, and build confidence through accomplishment. Completing a 400+ mile bike ride across the state gives the youth a sense of achievement, as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.

    Get in touch with the Dream Team

    Website: ⁠https://www.dreamteamdesmoines.org/⁠

    Instagram: @dreamteamdesmoines

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreamTeamDesMoines


    Contact the Podcast:

    Insta: ⁠⁠⁠@meremortalpod ⁠⁠ ⁠ 

    Trev's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@trevorbollmann⁠ 

    Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF⁠⁠ ⁠

    59 min
  • Episode 20: RAGBRAI Roundup with the Guys

    This month we throw out our normal format and have a panel discussion about RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) with the guys that joined us on that adventure during the last week of July. After a short introduction, we chat about how RAGBRAI stacked up against our expectations, our favorite foods along the route, challenges we faced and our favorite moments throughout the week. Having summed up our personal experiences in RAGBRAI, we moved on to the inclusive behaviors/items we saw while we were there. These varied from the people we met/saw, the range of bicycles (or even people that weren't on bikes) we saw, experiences we had with hearing or vision impaired riders, and a number of other things. This episode was a lot of fun to make and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
    Get in touch with the Guys:
    Doug

    Instagram: @doug.bitner

    Facebook: Search for Doug Bitner

    Luis

    Instagram: @ramos_luis97

    Strava: Luis Ramos

    Trevor

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@trevorbollmann

    Kyle & Tim

    They don't do the social media thing so wave at people that look like a Kyle or Tim!

    Contact the Podcast:
    Insta: ⁠⁠⁠@meremortalpod ⁠⁠ ⁠
    Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF⁠⁠ ⁠

    57 min
  • Episode 19: The TRANSContinental Run with Cal Dobbs
    This month Trevor sits down with, teacher, athlete, the first transgender person to complete the triple crown of hiking, and a badass who has just recently completed his ~2800 mile TRANSContinental Run across the US from Los Angeles to Jacksonville, FL, Cal "Starburst" Dobbs. Since this episode is sans Kyle, we breezed through the monthly check-in and got right into the main topic. We started out in familiar territory with how Cal was introduced to the outdoors, but quickly moved into how thru hiking didn't come easy to Cal, even though he was previously a collegiate athlete and how hiking the triple crown, although painful, molded them into the confident outdoorsperson he is today. Then Cal gives a quick primer on terminology surrounding gender identity and sexual orientation which flows very naturally into a chat about pronouns and the proper way interact with someone if you don't know their preferred pronouns. With this foundation laid, we talked about Cal's TRANSContinental Run, what it is about, why its important, and how the experience has been up to this point. Since Cal is probably the only guest we'll ever have that has been invited to the White House we talked about his experience there and through the lens of conversations had while there, what he thinks the future for trans people in the US will look like. We then finish the interview portion with Trevor's favorite questions and wrap everything up. Cal was an absolute delight to have on and to talk with about these very important issues. Hopefully people learn something and can use it to make the world a better place.
    Get in touch with Cal:
    Insta: ⁠@cal hikes
    Website: https://www.caldobbs.com/
    Sign up for the Trot for Trans Lives and Support Trans Kids in Florida
    Click Here!
    Help fund the documentary about Cal's Run
    GoFundMe
    Contact the Podcast:
    Insta: ⁠⁠⁠@meremortalpod ⁠⁠ ⁠
    Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF⁠⁠ ⁠
    Trev’s Insta: ⁠⁠⁠@trevorbollmann
    1 hr 4 min
  • Episode 18: The Park Ranger Life with Zach Darden

    This month Kyle and Trevor sit down with, former park ranger with the City of Albuquerque Open Spaces, Zach Darden! We start with our normal catch up and get to know our guest then jump into our main topic. We start out with how Zach was introduced to the outdoors, how he became a park ranger, his role and responsibilities as a ranger, the best and worst things about being a park ranger, and some of his favorite memories from his time in that role. We take a short detour to talk about living and building off grid, then talk about how important representation of minority groups in the outdoors is, and bring it home with Trevor's favorite questions. Zach is an amazing example of a great role model for folks in the outdoors and we are so happy we got to sit down and have a chat with him.

    Get in touch with Zach:

    Insta: @thefirst_blackbandit

    TikTok: @naturesauntie

    Contact the Podcast:

    Insta: ⁠⁠@meremortalpod ⁠⁠

    Discord: ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF⁠⁠

    Trev’s Insta: ⁠⁠@trevorbollmann

    54 min
  • Episode 17 - Adventure Travel with a Side of Mushrooms with Joseph "Mr. Overhill" Gonzalez
    This month Kyle and Trevor sit down with triple crowner, backpacking guide, and adventure travel planner, Joseph "Mr. Overhill" Gonzalez! After not really talking to each other in 2 months, the guys catch up and get to know our guest then jump into our main topic. We start out with how Joe was introduced to the outdoors, then get right to Adventure Travel with topics such as defining adventure travel, how to become a guide and what skills are important to have, what counts as a visit to a place, tips and tricks to planning an adventure travel trip, how to find a quality guide for a trip, ecotourism and ensuring your visit to an area isn't having a negative effect on the people that live where you are recreating, and how to be mindful that many places we recreate on were at one point stolen from indigenous people. We then take a side trip into mushroom foraging and really geek out for a bit on how cool it is that you can just go out into the wilderness and find things to eat the wrap things up with Trevor's favorite questions. Joe's energy and excitement for these topics really shown through and we were lucky enough to capture it for all of you. Enjoy and go have some adventures!
    Get in touch with Joe
    Insta: @mr.overhill
    Website: https://mroverhill.com/
    Articles on the Trek: https://thetrek.co/author/joseph-gonzalez/
    Contact the Podcast:
    Insta: ⁠⁠@meremortalpod ⁠⁠
    Discord: ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF⁠⁠
    Trev’s Insta: ⁠⁠@trevorbollmann
    58 min
  • Episode 16 - A Day on the Bayou with Matt May

    This month Trevor sits down with Canoe and Kayaking guide, father, outdoor educator, and #snelfie extraordinaire, Matt May. Kyle couldn't make it this month so the checkup portion of the show is rather short but we get right into the fun stuff and start talking about the Bayou! The guide service Matt works for is Canoe and Trail Adventures in the Covington/Mandeville area of Southern Louisiana and they do tours that are a bit different from the stereotypical fan boat tours that people associate with the New Orleans area. Instead their tours are slower human powered tours on kayaks and canoes and guides like Matt provide "edu-tainment" for the guests and in our opinion, allow guests to have a more fulfilling southern Louisiana experience. Some topics we hit on were Matt telling us how he was introduced to the outdoors, we give some background info about the bayou and the creatures that live there, what goes into a good #snelfie, the day camp that Canoe and Trail Adventures is puts on during the summer, how summer camps like this are a great way to introduce kids to the outdoors, then do Trevor's favorite questions and do the normal wrap up. Matt was super fun to interview and the joy he gets talking about the outdoors and how he gets to experience it through others eyes on a daily basis was absolutely infectious.


    Links to Check out!

    ⁠Eastern Lubber Grasshopper⁠

    Take a tour with Canoe and Trail Adventures: https://www.canoeandtrail.com/

    If you need outdoor gear in the Covington, LA area, check out Massey's Outfitters. https://masseysoutfitters.com/pages/northshore


    Get in touch with Matt

    Insta: @mattmay87

    Canoe and Trail Adventures: @canoeandtrail

    Contact the Podcast:
    Insta: ⁠@meremortalpod ⁠
    Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF⁠
    Trev’s Insta: ⁠@trevorbollmann

    54 min
  • Episode 15 - DEIB in the Outdoors with Bree Jameson

    This month the guys sit down with climber, caver, mom of twins, ski instructor, realtor, and entrepreneur (among other things), Bree Jameson. After a short introduction and our catch up, we dive right into how Bree was introduced to the outdoors by her father as a child and how she rediscovered her need for it after being diagnosed with treatment resistant depression. From that point on she delved head first into the outdoors, going above and beyond to find a accepting space for herself and her partner. Our main topic was Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and BELONGING (DEIB) in the outdoors. We talk about how important belonging is to DEI efforts and how creating belonging and inclusion in outdoor spaces is actually something that should be started before people invite others into the outdoors. This relates to the equity aspect of DEIB because everyone doesn't need the exact same thing to be comfortable and feel that they belong in the outdoors or really any setting. Bree introduced us to the great work that the Access Fund has been doing to create opportunities for people that have historically been left out of climbing route development in Texas and other places in the US. Through that initiative Bree became the first woman of color to bolt and climb a first ascent in Texas which was captured in a film titled, J.E.D.I. Training which should be publicly available soon. This was a great episode and it really gave us a better grasp on what we can do to make the outdoors a more inclusive place for everyone.

    "The real work of DEI starts with putting yourself in the shoes of others and not dismissing experiences just because you cannot fathom them" - Bree Jameson


    Links to Check out!

    Access Fund & JEDI initiative

    Equity vs. Equality Baseball Game Picture

    Texas Lady Crushers

    Vitamin N Book

    American Alpine Club


    Get in touch with Bree

    Insta: @Bree_Jameson

    TikTok: @theoutdoorsyrealtor

    Contact the Podcast:
    Insta: @meremortalpod 
    Discord: https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF
    Trev’s Insta: @trevorbollmann

    1 hr 3 min
  • Episode 14: Trail Building and Wildland Firefighting with Matt "Pretzel" Mason
    You are all in for a treat this month. We sit down and have a chat with long distance hiker, trail builder/maintainer, wildland firefighter, skateboarder, gravel biker, and many other thing-er, Matt "Pretzel" Mason. After our normal catch up, we get into how Matt was introduced to the outdoors by family friends then quickly touch on his long distance hiking before getting into how he has been giving back to the outdoors and the people in them by building/maintaining trail and fighting wildland fires. Starting with trail work, we talk about what building vs maintaining trail actually entails, how trail maintenance is an extremely important albeit underappreciated activity, and how everyone should volunteer to do trail work at least once in their lives. As Matt's employment evolved from being on trail crews to fighting wildfires, so does our conversation. We talk about how he made the jump from to wildland firefighting, what you do when you are on the ground fighting a wildfire, different jobs he has had within wildland firefighting, what those jobs entailed, how you even get one of those jobs, and the current benefits/treatment of wildland firefighters. Matt is extremely passionate on this last subject and I won't spoil it here but in short there have been some small steps in the right direction but there is still a long way to go before the people risking their lives to fight the ever increasing number of wildland fires in the west are compensated fairly and taken care of afterwards. We close out the interview on a lighter note with Trevor's favorite questions and the normal wrap-up items. We had a ton of fun on this one with Matt and we know you will all enjoy it as well. 
    Check out these people/groups working for Fair Compensation for Wildland Firefighters:
    Grassroots Wildland Firefighters on Instagram @grassrootswildlandfirefighters
    The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) www.nffe.org
    Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act https://www.grassrootswildlandfirefighters.com/tims-act
    Call your congress-person and let them know you value better benefits for wildland firefighters!
          -House of Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
          -US Senate: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
    Get in touch with Pretzel:
    Insta: @firexneck
    Contact the Podcast:
    Insta: @meremortalpod 
    Discord: https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF
    Trev’s Insta: @trevorbollmann
    1 hr 26 min
  • Episode 13 - Kayaking for 503 Days with Daniel "Out of Order" Alvarez

    Our guest this month is a long distance kayaker, long distance hiker, co-host of The Trail Show, and a lawyer focused on environmental law, Daniel "Out of Order" Alvarez. After a short introduction and our normal catch up (including a short tangent about EV adoption) we jump head first into Daniel's impressively long kayaking trip from the northernmost point in Minnesota (Northwest Angle) to Key West and then back again by a different route. We talk about the route itself, logistical challenges, how much history he was able to experience on the trip, a few of the wildest experiences he had, and basically answering a bunch of questions to calm some of Trevor's fears about doing a long paddling trip. After that we talk a bit about how his outdoor experience has been effected by his father being an immigrant from Cuba. As always we wrapped up the episode with Trevor's favorite questions in which Daniel made some great points which can be summed up by the phrase "Protect the places that you love". It was a great episode and we know you will love every moment of it. 


    Get in touch with Triple O:

    Insta: @predictablylost

    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PredictablyLost

    Website: www.predictablylost.com

    Check out The Trail Show @thetrailshow


    Contact the Podcast:

    Insta: @meremortalpod 

    Discord: https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF

    Trev’s Insta: @trevorbollmann

    1 hr 11 min
  • Trailer 2.0
    Just an updated trailer. What we imagined the theme of the podcast would be when we started has changed for the better over our fist year. This new trailer better summarizes what we are all about
    1 min

About Adventuring for Mere Mortals

From the publisher's feed

Fun and informal discussions about overcoming the common hurdles that prevent people from getting outdoors more. Basically, learn from our mistakes and get outside.