Leslie Kim is a Southern California native with the heart of a warrior. Whether she’s digging deep within herself to cultivate a new challenge with an unknown path or finding herself navigating imposing terrain in a sea of granite, she’s doing it with fight like you won’t believe. As an actual fighter and student of martial arts, Leslie displays a deep fascination in finding a way to navigate this world through her senses and movements.

These days, such movements include the colors, shapes and feelings of her artwork. As the designer and creator behind Dynamite Starfish, she’s working hard to bring awareness to our climbing journeys in a lighthearted and mindful format. She strives to find a means through both her business and personal interactions to create a space for individuals to be free to be themselves and approach life, the outdoors and climbing in a liberated way.

Jillian Yatsko is a change maker of the highest regard; Founder and President of the Hazel Foundation for Athletics, Founder of the Adaptive and Innovative Climbing Programs at Mesa Rim Climbing and Fitness Center, Course Instructor for Paradox sports and member of the USA Climbing Team. Through all of this, Jillian works through her own challenges with multiple sclerosis but refuses to affix the word “victim” to herself or others in her scene. A true example that tough times don't last but tough folks do.

Born and raised in the northeast, at the base of the Appalachian mountains, she’s been an athlete from the beginning. Involving herself in classical dance, downhill skiing and rock climbing as both passionate dispatches and outlets for her vast stores of energy. As Jillian and I sat at Pure Brewing, drinking too many beers and sharing too many stories not fit for the podcast tapes, it could have easily appeared that the two of us were in competition to see who could attempt to frantically wave their arms and leap from their seat more times than the other!

When Jillian and I met to record the podcast, she had just finished a full day at Mesa Rim in Mission Valley. In fact, moments before i walked in the door, she just wrapped up her coaching responsibilities with the adaptive climbing team. I assumed she’d be tired and perhaps low on energy. Maybe we’d need an evening coffee fix. Nope. No sooner had we said our hello’s and exchanged a big hug than we were bounding up the stairs towards the conference room.

I have no doubt you’ll love getting to know Jillian in her words and on her terms. Through her sharp wit, trademark laugh and zest for life you’ll find a courageous human that people want to follow and learn from. You’ll hear how some dark times throughout her life have given her a rather pragmatic approach in how she handles the pain. This approach, this practical conceptualization of disabilities, has lead her here to the forefront of the adaptive and innovate athletics world. She lives how she coaches - when you step into your athletic space, you throw all the life shit away. You’re an athlete. You’re not a disabled athlete. You’re an athlete.

Ruthanne Zouboukos, empowered elopements photographer, lives as boldly as she speaks.  A Truckee native that will be proud to call this gem of a mountain town home for many years to come.  It’s from this idyllic post, nestled by the support of her husband Dimitri, dog Scout and close friends and family, that she digs deep to find her truest potential.

Today that means empowering couples to dedicate their lives together in intimate settings, opening dialogue for women to network in personal and business environments and developing new ways to advocate for sustainable practices in the elopement/wedding industries.  Tomorrow it could mean something entirely new.  Truly, there’s no stopping Ruthanne from pursuing her wildest ideas and bringing them to fruition.

At just 23 years old her presence is already something you’d expect from someone much older in calendar years. In fact, just a month after our recording, she’s already grown her world in ways that render some of the podcast info “old news”. She’s hard to keep pace with, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to see what she’ll accomplish in the years to come. Mayor Zouboukos?

I met with Lizzy in the small yet bustling town of Bend, Oregon. Her and the incredible team of She Moves Mountains (Jenny Abegg, Katie Paulson, Jessica Olson, Sarah Regan, Josie McKee and Tori Lesh) were leading the Opening Weekend Celebration of their rock climbing clinics in Smith Rock State Park. This legendary area, generally considered the birthplace of modern American sport climbing, is an idyllic locale for a burgeoning rock guide group like SMM.

Some final morning conversations were coming to a close as I arrived to the Bunk+Brew. I fired up a chat with Sarah as our breath visibly twirled in the cold morning air. A handful of moments later her, Jules Jimreivat, Hannah Gaddini and I piled into Lizzy's van on our way to Smith Rock. Here, during the 2nd day of the Opening Weekend Celebration; I had great pleasure of witnessing this incredible educational space for women that Lizzy has created. That her team has built with her. That means so much for so many.

Lizzy’s journey here has not been mapped out in the traditional since. Nor has it been marked with straight lines and predetermined destinations. Wandering through the outdoors lead to summit bids and technical climbing, which lead to traveling the world and living out of her van in search of the best rock climbing destinations she could find. Lizzy defies definition. She challenges the status quo. She moves mountains.Lizzy recognized an underrepresentation of women guides in the rock climbing world and determined, through various ups and downs, that she would answer the call. She would raise the flag and lead the charge. She would find others to join the cause; to make the flag, help raise it with her, help keep it high when her arms became tired.

Wonderfully self aware with an infectious exuberance for life and an incredible emotional intelligence - I hope that Lizzy and her story will move you the way that it has me. I hope you’ll hear how honesty, compassion and boldness can make even the most daunting of tasks worth every ounce of energy, when the motives are pure.

As always, my friends, to your wildest self, be true.

Episode 5 - Brad Gobright

These days Brad has earned himself a sizable following and some solid sponsors that help support his passion for climbing. Yet, at 30 years old, he is quite aware that life will always present new challenges and new choices. The conversation extends beyond climbing towards the future, what that looks like, how it feels right now to be considering a future not fully focused on climbing and, even if just for a brief moment - what that future may look like when AI takes over.

Brad is a heck of a genuine guy and our day was spent in both serious conversation, light hearted jokes and some that perhaps took on a different shade. Through it all, I have to say, there wasn’t a single moment that he ever made a joke at the expense of another. He has a heart of gold and truly wants the best for everyone. He’s worked his ass off to find happiness and I get the sense that, part of his mission, is to help others find the same.

And, specifically to all you climbers out there. Here’s some Brad-beta. Try and find an Office quote that he doesn’t know; it won’t be easy.

To your wildest self, be true.

Growing up in Texas, far from the world of life on the road, Abbi never envisioned or set out towards the huge wave to come. Rather, she identified a series of small goals that would allow her and Cal to enjoy the spaces they love and the adventures that bring them closer to themselves and each other.

A self described homebody, it seems only natural that she’d take the adage of home is where the heart is (for her, husband Cal and pup Charlie) one step further and literally tow her home along for the first round of life on the road. Years and iterations later, her world and “home” have gown to levels that she could have never imagined. All because this beacon of a human had a wild idea that sparked into an amazing journey that is, without question, limitless.

Genuine, hilarious and heartwarming - I hope that Abbi and her story will motivate and inspire you the way that it has me. I hope that you’ll find something that ignites your desire to chase your dreams.

To your wildest self, be true.

Having gown up in a rather conservative family, it was not the natural path for Annie to move to California and pursue life in LA. Likewise, it was a big stretch for her to share so publicly the stories of her first lingerie sale, her vibrator, her dating life and beyond. But that’s exactly what she’s done and in so doing, has led to her own awakening, her own bravery and a true passion for sharing the stories of others.

Her hope is that you will be inspired by these stories. Inspired to live a life that creates a beautiful tale; whatever it may be. No expectations, no limits and no antiquated ideals of what all of that should look like. Just your life. Beautiful and messy. Just live it.

Samuel Crossley and I sit down outside of Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley to discuss his life and career as a filmmaker, photographer and climber. At the time, just a few short months ago, Samuel was fresh off the media tour of the film Free Solo. I'm so honored to share the words of this incredibly impressive young man; his life behind the lens, on the rock and his experience as a gay man.

In the first episode of the Wilder Mind Podcast, I sit down with climber Jordan Cannon just before his big push up "Golden Gate", a 3,000' rock climb up the SW Face of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley.