Join us on Season 2, Episode 10 of Creeks to Peaks: The Understory Podcast, and meet Bryan Chapman, the extraordinary US Army Special Forces Officer and Mount Everest Summiteer hailing from Craigsville, WV. From serving with elite forces to conquering the world's highest peaks, his story embodies the mountaineer spirit of resilience and adventure. Take a listen!

On Season 2, Episode 9, Michael interviews Dan Koepke, a Morgantown-native Alpinist and USA Ice Climbing team member. Dan's journey into the world of ice climbing started like many others—with a love for the outdoors and a thirst for adventure. But what sets him apart is his passion and advocacy for conservation and responsible climbing. He understands the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the places he loves to explore. When he's not hanging from a frozen waterfall or scaling towering mountains, you might find Dan sharing his knowledge and experiences with the next generation of climbers. He's a mentor, coach, and a true leader in the climbing community. We learn about how Dan embodies the Mountaineer spirit! As always, take a listen!

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On this episode, we interview Lindsey Fout, the creative force and West Virginia native behind Last Chance Textiles! Lindsey's passion for ethical design led her to craft soft, sustainable, and natural fabric bandanas and scarves. We explore her dedication to style, sustainability, and conscious consumerism, all of which has led to her success in the textiles industry. As always, take a listen!

Ridge

On this episode, we sit down with Bo Mahr and Max Gottlieb, the founders of Ridge, a socially conscious digital banking startup based in Appalachia. We discuss their roots growing up in rural America, and how those experiences drive their desire to positively impact similar communities across the country. We also discuss the fintech industry as a whole, and how carbon offsets aren’t as effective as many companies would like you to believe. So as always, take a listen!

On this episode, we interviewed artist Bryn Perrot (aka Deerjerk) of Morgantown, WV. Bryn’s iconic woodcuts and prints can be found all around the globe. Her work has been commissioned for use on album covers and stage sets, not to mention many of Jackie O’s beer can labels. We hope you enjoy learning about how she discovered this niche art form and grew her passion into a sustainable business. As always, take a listen!

On Season 2 Episode 5, we interviewed Chip Chase, the heartbeat of Whitegrass Ski Touring Center and Cafe in Canaan Valley, WV. Since opening in 1981, Whitegrass has become renowned as the Mecca of cross-country skiing in the mid Atlantic. That’s in no small part to Chip’s passion for creating a fun and welcoming environment and getting people excited to spend time outdoors. We hope you enjoy listening to Chip tell us about the over 40 year evolution of cross country skiing in WV, as well as what he sees as the future for outdoor recreation in the state. So, as always, take a listen!

Welcome back to Part 2 of our conversation with world-renowned paleoclimatologists and West Virginians, Lonnie Thompson and Ellen Mosley-Thompson. In this episode you’ll continue to hear about their research and exploration around the globe and how it pertains to people back home in the US and in particular, the Mountain State. Be sure to listen to Part 1 to catch up on where we last left off!

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 2 of Creeks to Peaks: The Understory. In part 1 of another 2-part interview, we introduce you to Lonnie and Ellen Thompson who are world-renowned glaciologists, climatologists, explorers, and West Virginians. The Thompsons have not only been celebrated the world-over for their polar expeditions and research in places like Antarctica, Tibet, and Mt. Kilimanjaro, but they’ve also been married to each other for just over 51 years, which in itself is no small feat. Still serving as professors at Ohio State University’s Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, the Thompsons’ studies have been influential in helping us understand global warming and climate change since the 1970s. Their combined awards and accolades include: the National Medal of Science, the Seligman Crystal, the Benjamin Franklin Medal, The Commonwealth Prize for Science and Innovation, and the Distinguished Explorer Award of the Roy Chapman Andrews Society. As always, take a listen!

This is Part 2 of Michael’s interview with World War II Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams. On this episode, Woody recounts his heroic actions at the Battle of Iwo Jima, as well as his life and military connections after the war. Take a listen!

On the first episode of Season 2, Michael had the distinct honor of sitting down and talking with World War II Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams. Sadly, Woody recently passed away at the age of 98 years old. We hope you join us for Part 1 of 2 episodes where we listen in as Woody takes us through his incredible life. From growing up in West Virginia during the Great Depression, to reliving all of his military experiences from start to finish, Mr. Williams will captivate you with his stories. Take a listen!