Safety Third

When the voice in your head barks, ‘You can’t do it,’ how do you respond? Pro-skier and climate activist Brody Leven has always chosen to look forward. He created a business when he was 9 years old, paid for his tuition at a Vermont ski academy, transitioned from a competition park skier to a ski mountaineer, and combined his skiing skills with the power of social media to carve out a successful career. Despite his success, Brody continued to feel that he wasn’t quite part of the cool kids club. That feeling worsened when his main sponsor declined to renew his contract at the height of his career and popularity. Rather than allowing that to derail him, Brody harnessed the rebuff. For him, leveraging self-doubt has helped him create a fulfilling life. 

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When we start to think about battling climate change, fighting for conversation and saving Mother Earth, it can make our heads spin it’s so complicated. For ecologist, filmmaker, and conservationist Chris Morgan, the solution is simple: bears. Chris is a self proclaimed bear nut. When he was 18-years-old, Chris assisted a black bear biologist with nighttime field work at a garbage dump; it was enough to change Chris’ entire life. He changed his college major to ecology, took research jobs all over the world, and helped create over 50 films and television programs about bears. Chris has spent over twenty years dedicated to protecting the world’s eight bear species and their habitats. And Chris’ work has illuminated one irrefutable fact: if we save the bear we will save the world. 

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“Going fast is amazing,” says professional windsurfer Zara Davis. “When you’re going over 50 miles an hour, at that point your eyeballs are properly rolling back in your head. It is like being a cork out of a bottle.” In 2012, Zara broke the 500-meter world speed record. She blasted down the course in Luderitz, Namibia at over 50 miles an hour, a feat that took years of physical and mental training, preparation, and logistics. In 2015, Zara’s record was broken and she immediately wanted to try to reclaim the title. Instead of focusing solely on the big goal, she broke it into incremental achievements. 

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In April, we recorded a live show at the 5Point Adventure Film Festival in Carbondale, Colorado. Joining us on stage first were Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller: pizza shop owners, mountain bikers, and stars of the Felt Soul film “Life of Pie.” Jen and Anne first opened their pizzaria, The Hot Tomato, simply to offer Fruita, Colorado, a tasty slice. But quickly, they learned that their restaurant did more than just satisfy taste buds — it fostered community. 

Next, we spoke with Rob Prechtl: professional photographer, US Men’s Raft Team member, and focus of the Gnarly Bay film “People of Water.” From the outside, Rob exudes high achievement and expertise. But for Rob, staying a novice is important, because he believes mastery is a myth. 

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How do you make a decision? Think it out slowly. Methodically weigh all the options. Don’t make a snap judgement. Use a magic 8-ball. None of these decision making methods work for Anne Gaylean, Ph.D scientist and mountain biker. In her field of study and at a literal forks in the road, Anne is fast, always. She quickly processes the data in front of her and makes a choice. Seems easy, right? Easy until she was presented with a difficult life decision: continue her professional mountain biking career or pursue a life in science. Anne Galyean stayed true to form and made the decision at race pace, never looking back. 

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When a pro athlete makes their living jumping out of an airplane, it’s easy to think they’re super human with an immunity to fear and the mental minefields of emotion. That’s not the case for professional skydiver and Red Bull Air Force member Amy Chmelecki. Throughout her life, self doubt and emotional turmoil was as consistent as Amy’s need to pursue skydiving; from low self esteem and dyslexia in childhood to a constant desire to control outcomes in adulthood. But with the help of therapy, Amy was able to decrease her need for rigid control and became more malleable with her approach and reactions to life. Amy used flexibility to find success. 

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In her early twenties, ultra marathon runner Melissa Ossanna began to get dizzy spells and experienced what she describes as temporary brain skips. She dealt with these symptoms for more than four years before, at the age of 28, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. While it was a relief to finally know what was happening, the MS diagnosis made Melissa feel trapped, as did her abusive marriage. With help, Melissa found the strength to leave her marriage and to fight her disease. And her outlook on her life changed. “The MS was a gift because it gave me something to fight for. And it gave me this strength and determination that I didn't really have before.” Melissa earned her PhD and trained for her first marathon, which turned into a full-blown love affair with running. Now at the age of 50, Melissa runs thousands of miles a year. Because if your outlook is right, limitations don’t exist.

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Teresa Baker has long considered herself an environmental steward. On a 2012 trip to Yosemite National Park, Teresa noticed something stark: she was the only person of color. And she wanted to change that fact. Teresa started by creating the African American National Parks Event, an annual event with thousands of participants that encourages communities of color to enjoy our National Parks, local parks and open spaces. Teresa continued to organize events with a focus on diversity. In 2018, she created the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge, urging outdoor companies to create and enforce policies that expand the diversity, equity, and inclusion of their employees, board members, and customers. Teresa contends that accurately representing the outdoor community and broadening the industry will create more environmental stewards. How do we get there? The outdoors needs a rebrand. 

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The scientific evidence of climate change is undeniable. As is the feeling in our stomach when we recognize the battle we face. Auden Schendler, VP of Sustainability at Aspen Ski Company, has had his shoulders against the sandbags of climate activism since the 1980s. His sustainability resume is impressive: aided in the clean-up of the Valdez oil spill, worked as a corporate sustainability researcher at Rocky Mountain Institute, pioneered green initiatives at Aspen Ski Co., and helped set the bar for environmental leadership in the outdoor industry. To Auden, the climate change battle is not a point of despair, but hope. Because outdoor people can save the world. 

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Over the last year, we’ve talked with incredible folks about the origins of their beliefs and how these ideas have shaped their experiences and their lives. And, Paddy and Elizabeth noticed a common theme that connects these stories: after loss came an opportunity for change. It’s true for our hosts, too. Following the devastating loss of her father, Elizabeth found the courage to take a leap of faith in her career. And after hitting an alcoholic near-death bottom, Paddy had a true chance at life. With 50/50 hindsight, are loss and opportunity are a package deal?

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