You probably know Amy Tan from her novels The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter’s Daughter or from her memoir, story collections and children’s books. But the National Humanities Medal winner is also a passionate animal lover. And as with her writing, Tan never does things halfway.  When Tan decided she loved Yorkshire terriers, she soon became co-owner of a Yorkie that won at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. She also has crusaded against puppy mill owners. “Animals are a big thing,” Tan says.  So in 2016, when Tan began to pay attention to birds, her curiosity soon grew into wh ..read more

Transcript Oriana Poindexter is a professional artist whose work weaves together photography, science, and marine life. Her art is very unique. Oriana uses seaweed and light-sensitive chemicals to make stunning, almost haunting prints. She lives in San Diego where she free dives in kelp forests for inspiration, and to harvest materials for her art. Connect with Oriana:  Website  Instagam  If you enjoyed this episode:  Listen to Submerging Into the Deep Ocean with Susan Casey and Freediving for Inner Peace with BJ Griffin Check out: Take the Wild Ideas ..read more

When I first moved to Seattle 15 years ago, I didn’t own a rain jacket and never had. It’s not that I didn’t spend time outside in the rain; I just got wet. Or I’d carry an umbrella. I have vague childhood memories of my dad throwing a plastic poncho over me when our canoe got caught in an afternoon downpour, but waterproof clothing wasn’t a closet staple.  But now I was living in a city infamous for its precipitation. Plus, I got a job working at the flagship REI store as a sales specialist. My new friends there, well-versed in essential outdoor gear for the local conditions, let me kno ..read more

When I first began running during my freshman year of high school, my coach decided my every move. My mom would drop me off for 7am practice on an already warm summer day in Southern California, and I would follow my coach’s instructions as his bellowing voice dictated the where, when and who of that day’s regimen. My chatter with my teammates would die down as we awaited instruction. Our coach would share the workout, explain the route, announce paces and assign groups. I loved running then, yet, amidst these constraints, I yearned for something more: an experience beyond the confines of a s ..read more

1. Agreeing to the hike The absolute peak moment of an outdoor adventure is when your friend sends a stunning Instagram post of a breathtaking view from the top of a moderate-to-hard trail, and you reply, “OMG, so beautiful––we should go!” while you’re blissfully horizontal on the couch.  2. Getting in the car after the hike  Folks, fasten your seat belts––we’ve now reached cruising altitude. You haven’t fantasized this much about getting in your own car since you were clutching your learner’s permit. Everything about this moment is a win: the significant barrier between you and the ..read more

Transcript In 2013, Thor Pedersen left his home in Denmark for the trip of a lifetime. His goal was to travel to every country in the world. He had three rules for his journey. He had to spend at least 24 hours in each country. He couldn’t return to Denmark until he had crossed off every nation on the list. And last but not least, no air travel. Connect with Thor: Website  Instagram Check out: Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!! REI Re/Supply Sign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series”  Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One: Check out the ..read more

Award-winning nonprofit Ghetto Film School (GFS) and REI Co-op Studios created the “Inside/Outside” mentorship and incubator program to help three filmmakers as they navigate the development and production of their films. Kristy Hyunsoo Choi (she/her or they/them), Julieta Lozano (she/her) and Alyse Arteaga (she/her) were each invited to develop and produce a project responding to the prompt: What does time outside mean to you or your community? Each filmmaker received a $50,000 production award to develop their projects, as well as mentoring and insight from industry veterans who offere ..read more

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: In Praise of Favorite Trees appeared first on Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication ..read more

Transcript Lael Wilcox is known as one of the world’s best ultra-endurance cyclists. She’s ridden over 150,000 miles in more than 50 countries. Now, Lael is going after her wildest idea yet: to break the record for cycling around the world. Her goal is to ride more than 18,000 miles in 110 days. Connect with Lael: Website  Instagram Check out: Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!!  Sign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series”  Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about loca ..read more

In August 2022, REI Co-op product developer Lauren Bowman asked hundreds of gear testers of all shapes and sizes to hunker down in sleeping bag samples.  Bowman wanted to take measurements while actual people used the ​bags ​to pinpoint optimal fit for real-world backpackers. So while testers played cards and read books in the bedding, she noted where the baffles pinched, gapped, sagged and bulged. The goal: to create better-fitting bags.   These fit sessions were part of a comprehensive REI Co-op initiative that looked critically and exhaustively at how well this piece of gear served th ..read more