Maddy Nutt is a professional gravel cyclist based in London, balancing life as an athlete, content creator, and all-around adventure enthusiast. From podium finishes to storytelling on social media, she’s carving her own space in the growing world of gravel racing.

In this episode, we chat about all things bikes, baked goods, racing, and the athlete–influencer world—along with the joys and challenges of life on and off the bike. Maddy shares stories from some of the sport’s most iconic events:

• Winning the UCI Safari Gravel Race in Kenya

• Racing in Iceland’s legendary landscapes

• Tackling Unbound Gravel in Kansas—the biggest gravel race in the U.S.

• Competing at Traka 360 in Spain, where she placed 7th despite riding 260 kilometers with a torn shoulder ligament after a crash mid-race

We also talk about what drives her as both an athlete and a creative, her approach to balancing performance with presence, and how she’s shaping her career in a sport that’s as much about community as competition.

Follow Maddy on instagram!

& watch her videos here!

ALSO WANDER is hosting events soon :) follow the instagram for more info but here is the link to our leavenworth trailfest ladies run & hang ;)

Alenka Mali is a filmmaker, snowboarder, photographer, and aspiring mountain guide carving her own bold path in the mountains. Her work blends adventure and creativity, from freeride competitions to remote expeditions, capturing stories that emerge where risk, rhythm, and resilience intersect.

In this episode, we dive into Alenka’s latest film projects—including an all-female splitboard film shot in British Columbia and Patagonia—and talk about the flow of a life lived between snow seasons. She shares stories of base jumping, planning mountain retreats, and the challenges of documenting remote landscapes while pushing her own athletic pursuits.

From freeride comps to filmmaking in wild places, Alenka’s story is one of creativity, courage, and community in the mountains.

Follow Alenka for updates on her films, photography, and mountain projects.

https://www.instagram.com/alenkaamali/

a conversation with the wonderful emma mchugh! emma is a menstrual equity researcher at point loma nazarene university in san diego! it has been so cool watching emma build akinyi where she and her her team spend their time interviewing a variety of people in global south counties, focusing on women’s menstrual experiences while also advocating for access to period products, education, and dignity!

in her free time, emma loves connecting with people wherever she travels, collecting treasures on her walks, cooking colorful meals for all her friends, swimming in the ocean, and reading books.

this conversation around menstrual equity is one that i have had the pleasure of chatting with emma about numerous times in the past three or so years that she has been working on this research, and single time the conversation ends, i think, oh my gosh more people need to hear this & i wish i could send it to every person i know!

hope you enjoy the episode! and if you could leave the podcast a review & even share it with a friend that would be super appreciated!

for more information check out https://akinyi.net/

Julia Cassou is an expedition photographer and videographer who has built a career documenting athletes and adventurers in their rawest, most powerful moments. From sailing across the Atlantic to climbing in Yosemite, Julia has captured stories of human resilience in some of the world’s most remote and demanding environments.

In this episode, we explore Julia’s path from studying general arts to becoming a specialist in outdoor and climbing photography. She shares what it’s like to cover multi-pitch routes, trad climbing, bouldering, and alpine adventures, often while following elite athletes on their projects. Julia reflects on the realities of documenting climbs and expeditions—authentically portraying not only triumph but also the fear, failure, and physical exhaustion that define these pursuits.

As a female adventure photographer in a male-dominated space, Julia brings an artistic, documentary-style lens to her work, blending emotion, environment, and storytelling. We also talk about her newest film, La Rubia, currently featured on the Mountains on Stage tour.

Anna Myers is the founder of Dirty Birdy Workwear, a new brand reimagining women’s workwear to be both functional and stylish. The idea was born during her own home remodel, when she realized how few companies were making quality options for women in the trades and DIY spaces—a major gap in the industry.

In this episode, Anna shares the origin story of Dirty Birdy, what it’s been like to launch a company while working full-time and raising a family, and her vision for building a brand that empowers women to feel confident, capable, and seen in their workwear.

Follow Dirty Birdy on Instagram: @heydirtybirdy
Explore more: heydirtybirdy.com

follow dirty birdy on instagram https://www.instagram.com/heydirtybirdy?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Meredith Rodgers spent the past year "onboard reporter" for the Clipper Round the World Race, sailing a staggering 40,000 nautical miles across the globe as part of the Perseverance team. What started as a lifelong dream led her into this wild, transformative role—documenting the journey firsthand while living it.

In this episode, she shares what it was like to become part of a crew navigating oceans and elements, the highs and lows of that epic year, and the emotional return to everyday life once the journey ended. We also dive into her creative side—how she transitioned into freelance photo and video work, and her latest passion project: filming an all-women's Northeast winter surf film.

This conversation is a vibrant mix of salt air, ambition, shift, and vision—revealing the grit and grace of chasing dreams on the open sea.

Follow Meredith: @meredithrodgerssAlso behind the lens at: @atrainstudios

Celina Frisson is a multidisciplinary artist rooted in both the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Coast. Specializing in ceramics and design, her work is shaped by the landscapes she moves through—allowing the rhythms of nature to guide her creative practice.

In this episode, we explore the many facets of Celina’s journey: navigating the in-between spaces of life and place, finding inspiration in movement, becoming human in Jasper, and the role of community in sustaining creativity. She shares insights on creative rhythms, leaning into new mediums like somatics, calming the mind, and listening to nature. We also talk about how The Creative Traveller name came to be, and her reflections for artists seeking to connect more deeply with their surroundings.

This conversation left me reflecting on my own creative habits—what to lean into and how to engage with the world more intentionally. I hope it does the same for you.

Follow Celina: @thecreativetravellerExplore her work: thecreativetraveller.com

Anna Gibson is a trail runner and multisport athlete from Jackson, Wyoming, whose athletic path has been anything but linear. From her early days in collegiate track to racing trails around the West, Anna has embraced the challenge and creativity of balancing multiple sports.

In this episode, we dive into her recent adventures—completing the Huffmaster bike race, setting a fastest known time on Mt. Tam, and exploring her love for skiing alongside trail running. Anna shares reflections on wrapping up her time in Mill Creek, California, and looks ahead at what this year has in store.

We also talk about the joys and challenges of pursuing multiple sports, the freedom of creating your own path, and how Anna is shaping a career that goes beyond one single identity as an athlete.

Follow Anna: @annagibson
Learn more: annarun.com

Tamara Jacobi—often known as “Jungle Girl”—is the visionary behind Tailwind Jungle Lodge, a treehouse-style ecolodge on the Mexican Pacific coast that she and her family began building in 2005. What started as a college dream blossomed into a thriving retreat center that blends creativity, sustainability, and adventure.

For more than two decades, Tamara and her family have welcomed guests and hosted retreats from around the world. Inspired by wild living, she also authored Wildpreneurs: A Guidebook for Turning Passion into Business, published by HarperCollins Leadership in 2020.

In addition to running Tailwind, Tamara is part of the team at Thermal, creating surf adventures in unique destinations. She’s also a mom to two young free-spirits, Zephyr and Dasen, raising her family with the same sense of curiosity and joy that has defined her own path.

Emily Hawgood is a Zimbabwean athlete, runner, and coach whose journey has taken her from growing up on a farm in Africa to competing on some of the toughest trails in the world. A top performer on the international stage, Emily placed 4th at Western States in 2023 and has raced at the legendary UTMB among the sport’s best.

In this episode, we talk about her life rhythms—travel, training, and the everyday moments that keep her grounded. Emily shares how she balances the intensity of elite competition with the joys of small daily practices, and what she’s learned through living and racing across continents.

Follow Emily: @emilyhawgoodFor another great conversation with Emily, check out this Trail Network episode.