Take It From Me

Keith discovered photography through his brother and their shared loved of skateboarding. All it took was one day of shooting skate tricks, and Keith was hooked. From there, he honed his skills through practice, books, and online research. And when he lost his job as a software engineer, he pursued photography full time and succeeded. Now, Keith takes photos for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, The Nature Conservancy, and many more. In this episode, Gregory, the bike shop owner you met in episode 7, talks with Keith about how he discovered his love of photography and how they both made life-changing career moves after losing their jobs. Connect with Keith Website Instagram  

Gregory didn’t always dream of owning a bike shop. But when he lost his job as an architect, he combined his passion for design and his love of bicycles. The outcome was Chocolate Spokes, a bike shop in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver. Not only does Gregory run a small business, he designs and builds beautiful, custom bicycles. And yes, he also sells a wide range of chocolate from small, artisan chocolate makers. In this episode, Mo, the adaptive climber you met in episode 6, joins Gregory in his bike shop.hey talk about how he ended up choosing Five Points as the location for his shop and what it took to open a successful business after making a career change. Connect with Gregory and Chocolate Spokes Website Instagram Learn more about cycling Gregory, through Brendan Leonard’s film about Chocolate Spokes Bike maintenance basics 14 tips for road riding in the dark

Maureen (Mo) has always been stubborn. Whether it was playing goalie on her soccer team or taking up rock climbing, Mo grew up throwing herself into activities that might seem difficult for someone born without her left hand. Because of her determination, Mo has won the ISFC World Paraclimbing Championships three times – in 2017, 2016 and 2014 – and more than a half-dozen national-level climbing competitions. In this episode, Allen, the nutrition scientist and small business owner you met in episode 5, interviews Mo about why she chose rock climbing, her relationship with the adaptive athletic community, and why she’s not willing to take no for an answer. Connect with Mo Website Instagram Facebook Twitter Learn more about rock climbing Mo’s journey to climbing her first 5.12 How to choose rock climbing shoes Climbing gear

Allen has always enjoyed tinkering. As a kid, he’d concoct interesting recipes using traditional Chinese ingredients. As an adult, he’s concocting food and sports drinks for athletes through his business, Skratch Labs. His goal is to create food and drinks that taste great and are made from real ingredients so active people feel their best when training and competing. In this episode, Giselle, the mountaineer you met in episode 4, interviews Allen about how he came up with Skratch Labs, and the hurdles he had to jump to get there. Through multiple career changes and a setback that nearly stopped him in his tracks, Allen has persisted and has something pretty cool to show for it. Connect with Allen & Skratch Labs Skratch Labs website Instagram Facebook Twitter Learn more about …   What to eat on your next long distance run How to fuel your race

Giselle will climb mountains, no matter what obstacles stand in her way. From heart surgery to an unexpected accident while climbing, she’s faced a number of challenges that could have stopped her from summiting mountains. None of them did. She’s dedicated to climbing some of the tallest peaks around the world and her hard work and determination has paid off. In 2015 she became the first Venezuelan woman to summit Denali. From Venezuelan news anchor to dedicated mountaineer, Giselle has a story that’s an inspiration to anyone, no matter your passion. In this episode, Sarah, the artist we met in episode 3, interviews Giselle while they take a hike in the Colorado mountains. Giselle shares her journey of becoming a mountaineer and chasing down her dream, despite all of the obstacles. Learn more about mountaineering  How to get started mountaineering Mountaineering gear Mountaineering checklist

Sarah Uhl creates beautiful art inspired by nature. 10 years ago she was on the path to becoming a professional cyclist, winning a Jr. World title. From age 13 to 23, she spent most of her time racing. There were even whispers of competing at the Olympics. But Sarah, an artist at heart, wasn’t fulfilled by the ultra-competitive, high stress demands that cycling required. She wanted to expand her life to include all of her passions and started creating art to capture the moments she found in nature. She’s now making a full-time living as a watercolor painter and illustrator while also bringing awareness to environmental issues. In this episode, Phil, the farmer you met in episode two, interviews Sarah on a vista overlooking a Colorado mountain range while they discuss Sarah’s transition from cyclist to full-time artist. Phil looks through Sarah’s art and they talk about her eternal optimism and how she brings that energy to the art she creates.   Connect with Sarah Website Instagram

Phil Taylor is a PhD scientist turned farmer and sustainable agriculture advocate. From spending all of his hours studying to spending all of his hours farming, Phil made the decision to change his career and focus on what he was most passionate about: being an advocate for a more ecological and vibrant food system. Through his organization Mad Agriculture, Phil is building a community of people looking to improve the quality of food production in this country. In this episode, Brendan, the ultrarunner you met in episode one, interviews Phil while surrounded by pigs at a small farm. Brendan and Phil talk about the importance of paying attention to what they eat, and how creating a career outside led them to their happiest lives. Listen to this episode to learn more about the work Phil is doing to change the food industry. Connect with Phil and Mad Agriculture Website Facebook Instagram Twitter

Brendan Leonard hates running. Which is why it was surprising when he signed up for a 100-mile race with his best friend. Not only did he figure out how to run 100 miles, he made a documentary film about it. When Brendan isn’t running he’s a writer, illustrator, adventurer and a believer in living a life outdoors. He encourages people to spend more time doing things they love, going to places that make them feel small and remembering to laugh at themselves. In the premiere episode of REI’s podcast, Take It From Me, Brendan is interviewed by host Nick Mott while they run a Colorado trail together. Brendan and Nick talk about what convinced Brendan to sign up for a 100-mile race even though running is low on his list of passions. Brendan outlines what it takes to complete an ultramarathon, and what people can do to prepare (hint: eat a lot). If you want to learn more about Brendan and his love/hate relationship with running, watch his new documentary about running 100 miles with his best friend. Connect with Brendan Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Learn more about running Running gear at REI Running basics How to train for running