The Brave Monkeys Speak | Adventure and the Science of Stoked

Life's a lot like a wintertime night trail run. The dangers out there are real - very real. But if we act like a Boy Scout, plan ahead and prepare (and act accordingly), most things just aren't as serious as our minds can make them out to be.

That's my hope for the current environmental crisis. If we can plan ahead, prepare, and change our actions to reflect greater human health and environmental sustainability, we can turn this ship around, and make these issues less serious than they are looking right now.

Today, I present to you three stories of businesses that are trying to create business solutions to human and environmental health. Many of you know that I have a natural aversion to business - I just feel that so often the objective of businesses is to sell people stuff that they don’t need. So at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, I really focused on finding the companies that are doing something more, something bigger. Companies that are genuinely helping people lead better, healthier, happier, more productive lives and who, in doing so, are working to help solve the environmental crisis. These are them.

First up was Scott Baker from Icebox Knitting speaking about Xob. By using scraps and bits from old wool items that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill, Xob is able to make beautiful, sustainable clothing. Seriously consider getting some of their stuff for your next winter hat rather than a new item from a company that isn't B-Corporation certified.

Second was Kevin Brodwick from ThinkBaby and ThinkSport. It's so important that we are using clean products - products that don't have chemicals in them that can disrupt our hormonal balance - which I consider to be one of the most important factors in who we are. Kevin's companies are providing that.

And lastly, we had Beth and Sherry from Trust Your Journey. I've often said that everybody needs a community - you will never outperform your inner circle! Trust Your Journey is providing that community for people who need it the most. Positive energy has some amazing, sometimes unexplainable healing powers, and Sherry gives one description of those powers.

Join us! Episode 022:
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How many of us have this story: we tried running for years and kept getting hurt? Or we stopped because we felt beat-up physically even though we still had energy?

This was my story until I read Born to Run and found Barefoot Ted's journey (check out the photos below!). Similarly, this was Barefoot Ted's story until he uncovered the discovery - or rediscovery - of barefoot running.

What he found was this:

"Hey! Human being! You know what? You evolved on this planet, and you happen to be the preeminent long-distance moving animal on this planet when you add heat, time, and distance to the equation. And that capacity that you developed was way before anything that we would consider a modern shoe. Indeed, we are ideally designed or created to perfectly move along this planet in a flowing, smooth way with the very default equipment we've been given... you are not born broken."

In this episode, we dive into:

1. Barefoot Ted's story,

2. how to develop proper foot strength and begin running barefoot safely,

3. mindfulness,

4. and the foot-brain connection.

5. Finally, we break into Barefoot Ted's latest contribution to the world, providing us with the modern expression of an age-old design: running sandals.

Check out The Guide to Minimalist Sandals, make some of your own, and then head over to Luna Sandals to get your hands on some perfection in motion. I am currently walking in a pair of Venado's, running in a pair of Mono's, and soon-to-be hiking/backpacking/approaching big climbs in some Oso's.

Tell us what you're using in the comments below? Even better, send us YOUR story via the email list.
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Trying to backpack at 290 lbs, knees hurting. Check out the big boots. Finishing a Half-Iron just a few years later... Episode 021 with Barefoot Ted:
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"What's the American Dream anymore? Do I have to buy a house, settle down? Will I ever find that girl? Do I want kids? What is home, anyway?

A guy told me once that everybody needs a grand tour - some times away from the walls you have constructed around yourself, to shake you out of your routine, show you your real dreams, to show you your story. I found a story. Maybe the only one I really needed"

-Brendan Leonard

We get into this and more in Episode 020:

Make sure to pick up a copy of The New American Road Trip Mixtape and connect with Brendan at Semi-Rad. Seriously, the book was an easy read, and it was life-changing in that it helps us to ask these hard questions and learn to trust in the process of finding the answers.
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Brendan Leonard is the author of The New American Road Trip Mixtape and writes enthusiastically about things regular folks can do at Semi-Rad. Semi-Rad is what can be done with 52 weekends and a few weeks of vacation a year. It’s adventures for the everyman and woman. It’s a web site for those of us crushing it, kind of.

We had a conversation about the struggles of finding work you love, his creative process, and the awesomeness of being passionately mediocre.

Check this sample of his writing out - I have watched this approximately 8,000 times in the last month since I first saw it. But warning: be prepared to be inspired...
Next week, we'll discuss his book and finding the New American Dream. For now, tune in to Episode 019: Music by Jeff Mallon provided by Mevio's Music Alley!

If you aren't on the email list, what are you monkeying around for? Enter your email below. While you're at it, go over to iTunes, hit 'ratings and reviews,' and click 'write a review'. Let me know if you did it and I will send you a sticker!
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Depression has been described as like being trapped in a deep dungeon to which you have the key, but never think you can look for it - or from which you can climb out, but you don't believe you can do it. This is Garrett's story of using adventure to begin to climb out of those depths - both metaphorically and literally.

Episode 018:
Music today by Zach Schmidt who recently has a new album out! Check it out here.
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This is the story of how Lyle Nelson deferred Harvard to take a gap-year surf trip through Central America. Strap in.

Episode 017:
Music today by Zach Schmidt, Shattervox, Jeff Mallon, and Mike McGill.
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We all make New Year's Resolutions. Mine failed for many years, until I decided to take a life-altering trip. This is the story of my Everglades thru-paddle.


Episode 016:  Music today by Big Rain, 8 Ball Aitken, Cipre, the Border Blasters, The Delta Rasa, and Jeff Mallon - these guys are awesome!
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Want to design your life around the outdoors? Look into starting a bike shop. CJ tells us his story today, including his career before bikes, soul-searching on sailboats, and finally opening his shop and having a former squatter in the building become his first 'employee' at Flagstaff Bicycle Revolution.

All of the music today was from Diamond Down String Band - CJ's work on the banjo makes their music come alive! Diamond Down is currently touring and looking to put out their first album - if you like their stuff you can get your hands on an album and other extras here!

Episode 015:
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Clay gives insights into health topics like boosting testosterone and reducing toxin loads, why adventure is inspirational and healthy, and his experiences in Zen meditation. And you know me, I also ask him for tips into staying contented with city life.

Episode 014:
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Close your eyes for a few seconds and take a deep breath, then come back and read this.

Back? OK, now imagine you are in the Himalayas hiking through deep snow drifts. You are cold, but the air is pure and refreshing. As you take another deep breath, you see in the distance a small wooden structure.

Upon arriving at the structure, you realize it is an abandoned Yurt. You open the door and peer inside, and find that high mountain flowers are growing. Close your eyes and take another deep breath, and take in the smell of the flowers and the old wood mixing together.

That's where Adventure Tea's Himalayan Oolong comes from, and what it makes you feel like. I have verified it.

Alex Davis, the founder of Adventure Tea, tells his story of creation in this interview. He also gives us some descriptions of the varieties of tea that Adventure Tea offers ... beware, though - your mouth may water a bit.

During the interview, we enjoyed some smooth, floral Hawaiian Volcano Green Tea, and as I write this now I am enjoying the transcendent Himalayan Oolong Tea. Yesterday I had "The Champane of Teas" - the Washington State White. Can I say WOW!?

The beautiful designs on the tea box labels were created by Saskia Bailey, and copy is done by T.J. Lowther. They make for great house decorations after you drink your tea!

Make sure to head over to Adventure-Tea.com for the inspiration and this amazing tea alike.
The beautiful boxes that come with Adventure Tea! Designed by Saskia Bailey. Episode 013:
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