Happy Holidays outdoor minimalist listeners. I can’t believe this is the third holiday season I get to spend with all of you! To give the team a bit of a break over the next two weeks, we decided to repost one of our most popular and well-loved episodes –The Christmas Tree Display.

If you haven’t heard this, you’re in for a treat!

Before we get to the special though, I have a few announcements.

First, the Forever Chemicals podcast was recently nominated for the Sports Podcast Awards! While we like to think of ourselves as a science podcast, it is an honor to be a finalist in the sports documentary category. We were nominated because we cover the use of hazardous chemicals in sporting equipment and outdoor gear.

That said, it would mean the world to us if you took a minute to cast a vote for the Forever Chemicals podcast. The link is in the show notes as well as in all of our social media bios. Voting is open until January 13th and winners will be announced on January 30th.

The second announcement I have is that I’ve also included a link to our listener survey in the show notes and will be sending these out in the next few email newsletters. Last year was the first year we tried a listener survey, and it helped us a lot to hear directly from you about the show. Your input helps us create a more impactful show and cover topics and interview guests that interest you most.

I’ve made some updates to the listener survey since last year, including the option to have a sit down chat with me, your host so I can hear from you directly and get to know you better. If you’re interested in sharing your thoughts directly with me and scheduling a video call, please fill out the survey in the show notes!

With that, thank you again for making this our best year yet, and happy holidays.

This Holiday Special: The Christmas Tree Display was written and produced by Meg Carney and edited by Alex Carney.

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VOTE HERE: https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-sports-documentary-podcast/

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Features Alex Carney as the Narrator, Meg Carney as the PVC Tree, and Jay Stewart as the Farm Tree.

The holiday season is here, and with it comes a surge in waste and consumption.

In this rare solo episode of Outdoor Minimalist, we explore how to reduce environmental impact during one of the most high-waste times of the year.

From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, waste in the U.S. increases by 25%, with millions of tons of trash generated from gift wrap, decorations, food waste, and shipping materials.

This episode gives you actionable strategies for conscious gift-giving and sustainable shopping, including:

• Embracing experiences over possessions to create lasting traditions
• Thoughtful gift ideas like practical items, subscriptions, or goal-oriented presents
• Supporting local artisans and ethical brands
• Crafting DIY or secondhand treasures for unique and personal presents
• Rethinking wrapping paper with reusable or recyclable materials

The holidays are an opportunity to spark conversations about sustainability and inspire new traditions that align with eco-conscious values.

Listen for practical tips and resources to celebrate joyfully without creating unnecessary waste.

Links Mentioned:

• EarthHero Sustainable Shopping
• Episode 3: How to Identify Sustainable Product Materials
• Bonus: Is Wrapping Paper Recyclable?
• Who Gives a Crap and Reel Toilet Paper
• Go Green with Alexa

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In the spirit of gift-giving, I want to highlight a book that I believe many listeners would love and cherish with their friends and family. Books are a timeless gift, and supporting small bookstores is something near and dear to my heart– after all, I grew up in one.

That’s why I decided to feature Sticks, Stones, and Pinecones: Games to Play in Nature by Jen Ball in episode 160 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast.

Jen Ball is lead faculty for the Sustainability Stream, a program that guides students into green sector careers, at Canada’s Humber College. Ball has also been a producer for CBC Radio One, coordinator for the Montreal Fringe Festival, and administrator for the Caravan Tall Ship Theatre Company. A member of the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario, Ball roams the outdoors often with friends and family.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Jen Ball

Humber College: https://humber.ca/staff/announcement/sustainability-spotlight-jen-ball

Mountaineers: https://www.mountaineers.org/members/jennifer-ball?ajax_load=1

Bookshop.org (US): https://bookshop.org/p/books/sticks-stones-pinecones-board-and-other-games-to-play-with-nature-jennifer-ball/21189103?ean=9781680517163

Indigo (Canada): https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/sticks-stones-pinecones-games-to-play-in-nature/9781680517163.html

In this episode 159 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we’re heading into ski and snowboard season. Now, we don’t have many episodes focused around the snowsports industry (there’s a few, shout out to Ted Ligety and his episode), but as we gear up for winter sports, I wanted to look at how we enjoy our winter season with a more critical lens.

We’ve all experienced a rapid change in weather patterns throughout the last 10 years, and skiing is at the forefront of climate change impacts. Warmer winters, shrinking snowpacks, and unpredictable conditions are transforming the sport as we know it.

To help us unpack this pressing issue, we’re joined by Anneka Williams.

Originally from Vermont’s Mad River Valley, Anneka is a climate scientist and she holds a BA in Biology and Earth and Oceanographic Science from Bowdoin College and an MSc in Climate Change from the University of Copenhagen. Anneka has worked on climate and environmental issues on four different continents and pursued stories and ski lines around the world. Currently, Anneka is based in Salt Lake City, Utah where she works on climate resilience in the energy sector and as a freelance writer.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Anneka Williams

Website: https://www.annekawilliams.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annekawilliams/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneka-williams-81215614b/

Email: annekawilliams24@gmail.com

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Episode Resources

Season Equipment: https://seasoneqpt.com/

Patagonia Worn Wear: https://wornwear.patagonia.com/

Intergovernmental Panel of the Climate Change: https://www.ipcc.ch/

Climate Central: https://www.climatecentral.org/

Today's episode discusses sensitive topics related to mental health and suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling, we encourage you to reach out for help. Remember, you are not alone, and resources are available to support you.

If you are in the United States, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. For those outside the U.S., please contact local mental health services or helplines.

We hope this conversation sheds light on the importance of mental health awareness and encourages open dialogue within our communities.

In episode 158, we have a powerful conversation about mental health in the outdoor community with, Drew Petersen, the creator of Feel It All, a film that explores the intersection of mental health struggles and ultramarathon running.

We’ll hear about the personal journey behind the film, the challenges facing mountain communities, and the critical role outdoor athletes can play in changing the stigma around mental health.

Drew Petersen is a professional skier and passionate ultrarunner who is on a mission to change our culture surrounding mental health.

He blends his athletic adventures—ranging from skiing peaks in the backcountry to running 100 miles—with his storytelling as a writer, filmmaker, and speaker in order to bring others along for the ride and to advocate for what he cares most about. As a skier, he has graced magazine covers and starred in dozens of award-winning ski films.

His writing has appeared in Outside Magazine, Powder Magazine, SKI Magazine, and more publications. In 2022, Drew produced, co-directed, and starred in Ups and Downs a mold-breaking film that mirrors the mountains and valleys of ski touring with his own mental health journey.

His newest film Feel It All chronicles running the Leadville 100, one of the most iconic 100-mile ultramarathons in the world, through the peaks he has skied surrounding the course and the deep, mental health goal that drives him to pursue both audacious athletic goals and a full life.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Drew Petersen

Feel It All: https://drew-petersen.com/feelitall

Website: https://drew-petersen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewpeterski/

This episode is brought to you courtesy of Colin True from the Rock Fight and Gear & Beer podcasts.

The Rock Fight: https://www.rockfight.co/

Gear & Beer: https://www.rockfight.co/yourmom/categories/gear-beer

Please follow and subscribe to Gear & Beer and give them a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts. Leave a written review on Apple Podcasts and reach out to myrockfight@gmail.com to claim your free Gear & Beer sticker!

Gear & Beer is part of the Rock Fight podcast network. Be sure to check out THE ROCK FIGHT for the best outdoor industry commentary on Apple or Spotify.

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

Want to see your favorite piece of gear or favorite beer featured on a future episode?

Send your feedback and suggestions to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

We know the climate fight specifically just got a whole lot harder. Trump’s back in the White House, and with Republicans holding the Senate, we’re facing a serious uphill battle.

We’re talking about a president who’s called climate change a "hoax," pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, and rolled back major environmental protections like the Clean Air Act.

He’s promised to open up more drilling, and he’s even said he’ll stop offshore wind energy projects on day one. Add to that his plan to gut the EPA and pull funding from clean energy programs... it's not looking good for the climate.

But here’s the thing—we can’t afford to tap out.

So, take a breath. Remember your why. Get outside, take in some fresh air, and give yourself space to process.

Don’t forget to check in on your people. Some folks might be struggling more than others right now, and that’s where community comes in. We might not agree on everything, but we’re in this together.

And lastly, don’t disengage. The fight isn’t over—it’s just going to look a little different right now.

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Unfortunately, we use a lot of toxic materials in the outdoor industry and have for some time.

This reliance on synthetic and sometimes harmful materials has seen some major shifts due to regulations, but there are always some brands at the forefront of big changes.

One change we're seeing in the watersports industry is the phase-out or move away from using PVC.

In episode 156 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we explore what PVC is, why it's been a popular choice for inflatable paddle boards, and the environmental concerns associated with its production and use.

To help break down these talking points and share a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes for a brand to make these types of material changes, I sat down to chat with Jimmy Blakeney.

Jimmy has stayed true to his passion for board sports and paddle sports for his entire life, even when it meant living in a van down by the river and budgeting $10 a day for food just to spend more time on board and in boat. His stubbornness led to full time sponsored athlete status for 10 years and a US National Championship title, interspersed with gigs in every facet of the business side of things, from marketing and branding to product design, sales, logistics, customer service and more. He's currently President and product designer at ISLE, where he tries to balance his brain's inability to stop focusing on new product ideas and customers needs with running one of the industry's top brands.

ISLE believes life is better in balance and that creating balance can be as simple as taking your first paddle strokes or catching your first wave.

Established in San Diego, CA, ISLE is the original surf and SUP company manufacturing products and accessories to keep you balanced, equipped, and inspired for adventures on the water. Since its inception in 2004, the brand has expanded its watersports offerings to include variations of hardtop and inflatable paddleboards, surfboards, hybrid kayaks, paddles, bags, and accessories. Learn more at: https://www.islesurfandsup.com

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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ISLE Paddle Boards

Website: https://islesurfandsup.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islepaddleboards/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/islesurf

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISLEpaddleboards