The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin promises you that he's not trying lure in sponsors or pat himself on the back. Because we're talking podcasts... not the creative side of podcasts but the business side of podcasts.

Podcast advertising is $4 billion large globally. But very few outdoor industry brands and retailers include podcasts as a part of their advertising plans.

To dig into why that is Emily Holland and Angie Marie from Wild Poppy Creative Consulting join Colin on today's show.

With backgrounds in the outdoors, Emily and Angie help podcasters grow their own shows and help brands find suitable partners to help spread their messaging via podcasts. So they're the perfect guests to find out why the industry has such a big blindspot when it comes to their ad strategies and podcasts.

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Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

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Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

It's adventure headlines day on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head)!

Today Colin & Justin Housman run through headlines to come out of the outdoor community over the past week.

Here's the rundown:

• A dropped bag of Cheetos caused big problems at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico proving that wherever people go, litter follows. (02:58)
• A pack of otters attacked a jogger who was out for her morning run in Malaysia. This story begs the question: what is the cutest animal that can royally f@%& you up? (13:21)
• A lost hiker was found after being missing for 30 days in North Cascades National Park. How much do we know and how many questions should we actually ask? (21:00)
• Lael Wilcox set a new record for biking around the world. How awesome is that?! (30:08)

And of course they wrap things up with their Parting Shots! (37:17)

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by talking about the new brand video from The North Face and what the messaging from outdoor brands should be in 2024 (00:55).

Then Colin & Producer Dave talk about the latest stores to open under the banner of Gearhead Outfitters (22:23), a prediction for the future of Public Lands (26:52) and the rumor that Interbike may be making a comeback (28:33). They wrap things up with their Parting Shots (29:25).

Here's the link to the video that Colin mentions and Producer Dave worked on: Colors.

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we dig into the details behind the acquisition of Backcountry.com by CSC Generation with former Moosejaw CEO Eoin Comerford.

Eoin joins Colin and Producer Dave to chat about how Backcountry found themselves in their current position, what we know about their new owner, and how this news was communicated.

Lastly Eoin gives his thoughts on a recent promotion at REI and Mountain Warehouse's bid to acquire EMS being approved.

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by digging into one of the more touchy subjects in the outdoors: Dogs and their place in our community (01:01).

Then Colin and Producer Dave talk about the news that broke last week that Backcountry.com has sold to CSC Generations (16:37) and how an executive promotion at REI and the acquisition of EMS by Mountain Warehouse show us where outdoor retail could be headed (25:09).

And of course they wrap things up with their Parting Shots (29:51)!

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin open the show by getting Justin's thoughts on the new social platform from Outside and how it's integration into Gaia will impact Justin's use of that app (02:50).

Then they run through the following headlines to come out of the outdoor community over the past week:

• Killian Jornet set a new record last week summiting all 82 peaks in the Alps that are over 4000 meters high in 19 days. Why do we care about incredible feats by incredible people? (12:10)
• Canadian Trail Running reports that older runners are thriving as trail runners. What is it about running in our middle ages that makes it so appealing? (21:46)
• Arc'teryx opened their biggest store in NYC last week. Does Justin agree with Colin's assertion that they are no longer an outdoor brand? (27:25)
• Wrapping things up with their Parting Shots! (33:16)

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) owner and founder of Wilderness Exchange, Don Bushey, sits down with Colin to give a behind the scenes look at his new partnership with Black Diamond.

Last month news broke that Black Diamond and Wilderness Exchange would be forming a new retail partnership. One that allows Wilderness Exchange to remain independent while Black Diamond effectively takes over the majority of the store.

It's a unique approach to a collaboration that historically has relied on things like shop in shops for a larger brand presence in independent stores; and is a potential new option for brands who may be adverse to opening their own store fronts.

Today on the show Don offers how the deal came together and why it makes sense for Wilderness Exchange at this point in the shops history.

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin starts the show by giving his thoughts on Outside Inc launching their own social media platform and offers why he thinks Outside keeps making these bizarre strategic decisions (01:03).

Then he and Producer Dave talk about the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry last week:

• Rossignol has launched a new line of trail running shoes to better compete in spring and summer. Is Sierra just sitting there licking their chops? (23:40)
• eVent released two new technologies that are PFAS free. Is this too little too late? (29:22)
• Solo Stove goes back to Snoop and welcomes Warren G for their new marketing campaign. Where's the justice for their old CEO? (35:22)
• Our parting shots! Colin wants to know what happened to music videos and Producer Dave gives props to an Oregon park. (39:45)

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Doug Schnitzpahn joins the fray to talk about how the outdoor industry has lost it's way.

(Look at that 'poet and didn't even know it' type stuff here on THE ROCK FIGHT)

Doug is a journalist and the Editor In Chief for Elevation Outdoors and has been in and around the outdoor industry since the 1990's. He believes that the changes to the outdoor trade show scene that we've talked about a ton here on THE ROCK FIGHT have come with other consequences. Namely that there has been a 'de-centering' of our industry.

Today Doug sits with Colin and Producer Dave to talk about events, recreation, politics and getting our industry back on track.

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin starts the show by digging into Arc'teryx and Amer's big second quarter and why good brand strategy is paying off for the premium outdoor brand.

Then he and Producer Dave take a look at the latest brands to join the roster at The Running Event and Switchback as well as the new election day policy put into by Patagonia before wrapping things up with their Parting Shots.

Time Codes:

• Arc'teryx surges ahead thanks to their long term brand strategy. (01:03)
• The Running Event and Switchback add even more legacy outdoor brands to their fall event. (21:47)
• Patagonia will give their employees a day off to go vote (24:46)
• The Parting Shot! Colin takes aim at Costco's cheap Hoka rip off and Producer Dave has words for honey bees. (26:42)

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to [email protected] or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.