Becoming Human

Ian Ramsey is an educator, musician, adventurer who has been deeply inspired by outdoor writers and students of spirituality. Ian’s largest inspiration is Gary Snyder. He was introduced to Gary Snyder through reading about his related character in Jack Kerouac’s book, The Dharma Bums.

Ian has a rich history of experiences from ultra running, sea kayaking, ski touring, bikepacking, teaching adults & youth, and more. Ian has had his writting published with several organizations, he’s pursued professional certifications and/or publications in his areas of interest including sea kayaking, teaching, music, and he’s led multi-day expeditions internationally. He is an impressive leader and educator with a burning passion.

In this episode we talk about developing the self-control to make choices and not be chosen by someone or something. Sometimes we go through life waiting for things to persuade us into action. Other times we go through life ruminating on an aim, setting our sights, and performing a process to hit our target. When you determine what you want and work your way towards making it a reality then you get to participate in influencing reality; your reality. 

The most finite resource that you have is time. How you spend your time directly affects your experience. It’s a canvas where every brushstroke cannot be erased. That creates a powerful valuation. In this life, we have many things trying to persuade us for their own survival. The consequences they have for the individual affected are good, bad, or neutral based on your aim and values. It is perhaps the most pertinent skill in the modern world to identify your aim and learn to manage your desires.

To learn more about Ian Ramsey, go to his website IanRamsey.net and on instagram @ian.ramsey Checkout some of the writers that Ian mentioned in the podcast below.

Richard Nelson - www.rionmagazine.org/2020/08/ravens-witness/

John Hayes - https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Hay

Sam Hamill - www.poets.org/poem/after-morning-rain

Gary Snyder - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47178/riprap

Checkout Ian Ramsey’s Poem, Letter To America, on Terrain.org

North Yarmouth Academy

Aspire Adventure Running

Steven Sashen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Xero Shoes, a serial entrepreneur, . Steven and his wife, Lena Phoenix, started Xero Shoes after being inspired by Christopher Mcdougall’s book, “Born To Run.”

When Steve was 45, he returned to sprinting. Steve loved sprinting in his youth, but he experienced constant injuries in his return. He was introduced to barefoot running through his friend and he gave Steve a copy of, “Born To Run.” 

Steve experienced elation when he felt the ground on his bare feet and upon realizing his gait was changing. Steve made some sandals for him and his wife, Lena from Vibram soles and lace. While running, Steve would get compliments on his sandals and they’d ask for a pair for themselves. 

Since the first iteration, Xero Shoes and crew have come a long way. From minimalist sandals to making closed-toed minimalist shoes. They’re making shoes that fit a wide range of lifestyles while delivering on shoes that are minimalist, with a wide toe box and retaining as much ground feel as possible.

I love Xero shoes because they combine quality while delivering a very specific product for those that want to feel the ground while having just enough protection from foot punctures. Steve has a love for solving problems and helping bring ideas to life. His success in Xero shoes is a representation of finding a problem that wants to be solved; an alleviation of tension. 

Entrepreneurs are fascinating when you apply the axiom that it’s the journey and not the destination that matters. I believe as an entrepreneur, it applies to focusing on not pursuing riches but alleviating tension through business.

Check out his podcast, The MOVEMENT Movement, on youtube

Song featured on this episode: Oliver Hart - Step By Step

Have you ever been in a flow state?

What does it make you feel?

Logan Tyler is an entrepreneur who uses rock climbing to tap into his flow state and gain perspective. There are experiences in life that are very impactful. Think of the most cherished experiences you’ve had. Most children think of Disneyland with glee. There are experiences out there, within your reach, that will take your breath away and make you feel alive. 

Logan dreamed of being a professional rock climber. In 2016, his opportunity was transmuted by a tragic accident. Logan’s accident changed his life substantially. He was no longer the fit, confident, and physically able man he once was. He had his jaw wired shut for 6 months and drank his calories through smoothies. The experience gave him the opportunity to learn new life lessons of listening and stillness. 

The fixed dilemma that he had to face made him soften his heart and polish his mind. The incident changed his perspective forever. He went from a capable and confident person (who rock climbs, skateboards, etc) to being talked down to by others because of how they interpret his condition. That experience was a mirror where Logan saw the human tendency in himself to not pay attention to what’s in front of him and default to his mental model. 

We often live within our mental models and the longer we go without a novel experience, these models seem to diverge from objective reality. I found it beautiful the way that Logan took his accident and saw a story in it that helped himself and others around him. Logan is a guide for children and adults, founder of Base Camp Ouray, and he dry tools and rock climbs. He’s been climbing since he was 7 years old!

Checkout Steven Kotler’s book, “The Art Of The Impossible.”

Steven is a well-studied student of flow with a wealth of resources on the subject.

Scott Rowely has helped Logan with his mental health and pursueing his goals. Logan looks up to Scott and holds his company, Peak Prosper, in high esteem. Checkout Scott’s episode here.

From rock bottom to the top of the world Scott Rowley helps men by empowering them with the tools and resources needed to master their emotions, their minds, and create the life of their dreams. It was Scott’s trials and tribulations that called him to help other men find their way in life. 

Scott is an author, coach, and adventurer. In his past he dealt with alcohol abuse and fixating on work to his detriment. When Scott was a kid, he was a scout and he graduated from the program as an Eagle Scout. He has lived a life with adventure, strife, and a deep love for introspection. 

Check out Scott’s life coaching services with the company he co-founded at Peakprosper.com

Peter Peak is a hip-hop artist under the moniker knw.1ne, a paraprofessional for disabled youth, and pursuing a career as a music teacher. I went to an alternative high school in North Idaho with Peter. The kids at the high school faced a variety of adversities that made accessing education difficult. I find it beautiful when people can find a way to overcome their hardships and find the lifestyle that fits them best. Peter started with hip-hop and skating in high school. He has now spent over a decade developing his skillset. Developing a recreational skillset in adulthood is a fulfilling way to pursue learning. Peter found another passion along the way, helping teach youth with disabilities. 

Check out Peter on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/user-548928830

You can find him on Instagram @knw.1ne

Mahting Putelis is a hunter, entrepreneur, former outdoor sports guide, teacher, photographer and CEO of Hunt To Eat.

Hunt To Eat is a hunting media and apparel company with the focus on gathering wild foods and conservation. Hunt To Eat hosts hunting camps where they teach people the skills to hunt a specific species of animal, field dressing, meat care, and firearm safety. They use the experience as a platform to teach ethics, conservation, and tactics. These experiences are a way for people to connect in their values, personality, and character in a shared experience.

Mahting had a teacher that introduced him to his passions and a way he can thrive in service to himself and his community. After struggling with purpose in school, Mahting found a direction in mountain guiding and education. As a guide he learned about communication, perspective, and managing groups during adventures in nature. His interest in the outdoors blossomed into exploring his creativity when he pivoted to being an adventure photographer. He was thrust into entrepreneurial and creative challenges in the environment that meant the most to him. 

In his adulthood, he circled back to his family’s tradition of hunting. Mahting’s love for the outdoors, helping people and connecting with their spirit shows in this conversation and his work through Hunt To Eat. 

In this episode, we talk about how Mahting became an entrepreneur, found his context where he can thrive, discovered his sense of purpose, Hunt To Eat, hunting camps, and how his character has unfolded over time.

Checkout the rad shirts and their latest magazine at Hunttoeat.com

Joshua Cedar Larsen is a Whitewater Raft Guide at Triad River Tours and Conservationist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science. Josh has over 8 years of guiding experience and he’s kayaked up to class 5 rivers. In his youth, he was tenaciously trying to get on the river as often as possible. He graduated high school from the World Class Kayak Academy where he learned general education through traveling the world, immersing themselves in culture, and kayaking rivers along the way.

Josh spends his year paddling rivers in rafts and kayaks. From his perspective, he sees a river change over time with high resolution. He sees beyond the superficial nature of the landscape and has an intimate knowledge of its contents. The nature of the guide is intimate and educational. Josh takes the array of people down rivers, managing hazards, and their client’s experience. It’s a unique thing to see so many kinds of archetypes on display during an intense moment; a moment that commands presence. 

Every one of us likely has a river within an hour or two from where you live. 

Rivers, creaks, lakes, and oceans play a fundamental role in all of our lives. 

They provide sustenance, life, potential hazard, and the opportunity to challenge yourself. These rivers are not without their threat as well. If you were to find a guide and learn skills to paddle, fish or recreate in another way on your local rivers, you would discover something very pleasurable. This sense of satisfaction and anticipation to experience your local river gives it a deeper level of meaning and value. With that relationship, we become advocates for healthy waterways and water access. 

Find Joshua Cedar Larsen on Instagram @joshuacedar

Taylor Spike is an Ultrarunner who has completed over ten 50 mile ultramarathons and he’s raced in ultramarthons that are 100 miles and even 200+ miles long! Taylor wrestled with substance abuse from the time he was a teenager into his adulthood. Taylor has a history of struggling with obsessive tendencies with alcohol and prescribed pain medication. I have met people who have been prescribed medication for an injury and some will eventually develop an attachment to taking the medication and will seek to take it recreationally. In my anecdotal experience, this is a minority, however I find it fascinating like I find the difference between recreational drug users and addicts. I was raised in a family where my siblings and parents struggled with substance abuse. 

I would blame the substances and I would fear myself; I was deeply afraid of falling in love with a feeling or material thing so much that I would hurt myself for it. Ironically, I would do that with relationships, food, etc.. It seemed a fundamental problem to being a person, at least for me, and for some other people I have met in life. 

Taylor has a history of Ultrarunning, completing these very tough experiences and he has pulled himself from the depths of his cycle of addiction. Taylor talks about his challenges with Ultrarunning in ways that are reminiscent of his proclivity to use alcohol excessively, however, the result in running is more fitness, greater reward for tackling large challenges, delayed gratification, community, character insights for everyday life, non-standard states of consciousness, etc.. 

When you make mistakes in your training as an ultrarunner you still have the same internal problems as you carried with you in your other habits, but the structure of training makes those internal problems the main focus. If you make mistakes in this environment, the damages are not as costly. 

I relate with Taylor Spike in that I love intense experiences. That feeling, without a constructive outlet, wreaks havoc on my life. Within the right context, my proclivities are helpful and give me a sense of meaning and confidence. 

As Taylor would put it, “Smile, life’s worth it!”

“ Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers

who soar to high heights.

You’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way! “

-Dr. Seuss

Most people fear heights, but what compels them to face their fears?

Them is you, even if you haven’t experienced it before.

A 300lb weight would be impossible or injurious to lift to the unpracticed.

By defining your baseline and incrementally pursuing discomfort, you will grow; you will improve. You might even achieve what was once impossible. So to with fear, but what else?

Selena Eon is an avid explorer of the impenetrable Cascade Mountains and a Naturopathic Doctor practicing at Origin Holistic.

There’s a list called the Bulger list which is a list of 100 summits in Washington that are mostly the highest peaks with a lot of prominence. Basically, really tall stuff that’s dramatic. However, not all of the peaks follow that theme. In addition to that, there’s a ton of other lists that inspire people to push themselves or explore the unknown. Selena is an exemplary figure of a modern day adventurer. Without specializing in adventure sports professionally, she has to find her own balance of adventuring in the wilds and working in her community as a Doctor.

In this episode, we discuss her entry into mountaineering, peak bagging, and trail running. I wish I could take you to these places and experience the challenges and rewards of the landscape. At the least, I hope you get to hear it through Selena.

You can follow her adventures on instagram @drselenaeon

Harbert Egberts is a personal trainer and founder of Functional Harbeats, a platform and community that offers rotational strength and conditioning, kettlebell exercises, and other forms of training protocol. Harbert is a Mace specialist. He traveled around the world to study with experts in the craft. Harbert began traveling to India to document the culture and explore the cultural history of gadas, their name and version of a mace. The culture has been using it for 3,000 years and they’ve been using it for strength in Kushti wrestling, a specific kind of wrestling in India. The Flowing Dutchman has wonderful stories of riding his motorbike across india. One in particular was really adventurous. You can watch his documentaries on his youtube channel The Flowing Dutchman

The Flowing Dutchman

https://www.blabbermouf.com/music/