Day Fire Podcast

Some of our most popular episodes are when we talk the van life! - This week Dawson and Clint welcome back Justin Shipp, owner of Site Seven Custom Vans. They talk about innovations in van builds and new gadgets! They explore some of the basics, things to consider, and things to avoid when designing your van. Dawson shares some things he might do differently in his next build with Site Seven and we see if Justin can close the deal during the podcast (we have faith in you Justin)! They talk about food - games - BB guns - and how a van is simply another reason to get up and get outside! PLUS - they ask and answer the most important question - is breakfast or dinner the best meal when camping? Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Clint puts Dawson on the hotseat! 10 questions in 30-minutes! Covering business - adventure - animals - bucket lists - conservation - and more! This one moves pretty fast, is full of stories, some laughs, information, and hopefully entertainment! Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Clint and Dawson talk with Alex Kutches. Alex serves as President for Mystery Ranch packs based out of Bozeman, MT. Prior to this post he served as VP Sales & Marketing for Mystery Ranch for 7.5 years. He has also worked with Outdoor Research out of Seattle as President and VP Sales & Marketing as well as with Marmot as Director of Sales for the US. Alex, simply stated, is "a wonderful, humble person". We talk about the history of Mystery Ranch, pack designs, carrying loads and some adventure stories. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Clint and Dawson talk with David Kramer. After working at a specialty outdoor shop in Atlanta for 10 years, High Country Outfitters, David started his career as a manufacturers rep. He and his partners built a sales agency, called the Uber Group. The agency represented Arc'teryx, Salomon, Petzl, Mountain Khakis, Suunto, and Jet Boil, in the Southeast. Arc'teryx, Salomon, and Suunto were being used by the Military and that became a significant part of Uber Group's business for 10+ years. That engagement with the Military is ultimately how David got involved with The Special Operations Care Fund. David states, We created SOC-F in 2013 for one purpose: to make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of SOF families who have given so much for our country and our freedom. We do this by raising money for one incredibly worthwhile purpose: to provide medical, financial, and other support to SOF members and their families in ways that are often not met through other sources–what we call the “gaps.

This week Clint and Dawson talk with Skyler Baker. Skyler was born and raised on Signal Mountain Tennessee and since he was a child he was immersed in the outdoor community and music scene of the Chattanooga area. Every spring and fall his family camped in a pop up trailer in the surrounding state parks. As a teenager that developed into hiking with friends and doing short overnight trips around Walden’s Ridge. His senior project included work with the Cumberland Trail Conference before setting off for the college of engineering at UT Knoxville. In his second year at UT he went on a whim of a day hike in the Smokies which sparked a love. In my third year he was invited to spend spring break backpacking on Cumberland Island, his first multiple night trip. While working a summer internship in Chattanooga he began to trail run every day after work. Once he graduated that became his hobby and it further developed in the Smokies. His approach to travel also changed as he took trips to South Africa, the Alps, Cana

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Christine Reed. Christine is a long-distance backpacker and author of the memoir, Alone in Wonderland. She shares her personal journey from sedentary office worker to rugged outdoorswoman in hopes of inspiring others to see something bigger for themselves-- whatever that may be. But also to remind us that a good story is about sharing something of ourselves and connecting with others. She's found in the outdoor community the first place that ever felt like home. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Bill Johnston. Bill is the co-founder and president of Recover Brands, a North Carolina based sustainable apparel company. Recover Brands is a mission driven company that aims to create the best, most environmentally friendly and socially responsible products possible, and to educate and inspire those around us to live and work for a sustainable tomorrow. Recover Brands specializes in manufacturing and marketing apparel and accessories out of 100% recycled materials. Through its co-brand program, Recover offers custom designs and prints on it's products for businesses, organization, events and more. Prior to founding Recover in 2010, Bill worked in the outdoor industry guiding backpacking and mountaineering trips. Bill is a native of Statesville, NC and an alum of North Carolina State University. Outside of the office Bill likes to spend as much time outside as possible. He is an avid mountain biker and enjoys skiing, backpacking, fly fishing, running, golf, sur

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Scotty Smith. Scotty is a horticulturist with a passion for all things plants and nature. We wanted to talk about Spring flowers, blooming bushes, plant identification apps, hiking, bugs and this big ol world. Scotty is a committed life-long learner and has been studying plants and ecology for more than 10 years. He first began his career as a park ranger working on biological studies, maintaining trails, and practicing land conservation at Shiloh National Military Park. He then set his sights west, where he worked at Colorado State University managing the research arboretum as well as a horticulturist at a landscaping nursery and tree farm. After taking time off to hike the Appalachian Trail with his dog Bailey, Scotty began his career at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in 2018 as a Horticulture Assistant. Due to his strong background in plants and his knack for growing them, he became Nursery Manager, and then took on his current role as Director of La

Day Fire Podcast has been around for years and from time-to-time we like to visit our archives and re-release some great conversations that some of our loyal listeners may have missed! This is a Clint Powell pick: Episode # 35 from November of 2019 with Rickey Gates and Fred Doss - 'Running Coast to Coast'! This week, we spoke with Rickey Gates via phone who is a Salomon Athlete. Rickey shares his story about running from coast to coast. Rickey writes; "From March 1st to August 1st, 2017, I traversed the width of America - from South Carolina to San Francisco. My 3,700-mile-long route took me on trail, road, river and snow. I ran through plains, desert, mountain ranges and cities. Snow, rain, wind, heat, sun and darkness. Mostly, I ran alone, but occasionally some friends would join me. I am currently processing this trip - in words, photos and how I anticipate it to affect me in the future. For much of the past fifteen years I have been traveling to every corner of the globe. I sort through photos and find m

Day Fire Podcast has been around for years and from time-to-time we like to visit our archives and re-release some great conversations that some of our loyal listeners may have missed! This is a Dawson Wheeler pick: Episode #64 from July of 2020 with Dr. John Anderson! From a running perspective he has been running around in the woods for most of his life, from cross country in school to trails and ultra, and had a decent bit of success and certainly a ton of fun in ultrarunning over the last 16 years. In terms of race results, most recently John finished 7th overall at the 2019 Tor des Glaciers in the Italian Alps. This is a unique event, an unmarked 450km (~300miles) route done in a single push with over 105,000 of climbing that has interesting and variable terrain from steep mountain trails to 4th and 5th class scrambles. Here's a link to a race report John wrote for Ultrarunning Magazine for it https://ultrarunning.com/.../the-inaugural-tor-des-glaciers/ Dr. John Anderson also has a great family w

This week Clint catches up with a very special guest (insert dramatic pause) - Dawson Wheeler! That's right, this week Dawson takes a break from the slopes and calls into the Day Fire studio. They talked about snow, fire, and conservation - the Olympics - being competitive with your friends on the slopes - gear - vistas - and more! This was a really fun conversation! Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Cint and Dawson sat down with Lauren Templeton. Lauren is the founder and president of Templeton and Phillips Capital Management, LLC. Lauren is the Independent Director for Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, Fairfax India Holdings Corporation, and Canadian Solar, Inc. Lauren is the great niece of Sir John M. Templeton and is a current member of the John M. Templeton Foundation, the Templeton World Charities Foundation and a Trustee of Templeton Religion Trust. Professionally speaking, Lauren began her career working with managed portfolios and investments in 1998. In 2001, Lauren founded Templeton & Phillips Capital Management. Lauren is the Co-author of Investing the Templeton Way: The Market Beating Strategies of Value Investing’s Legendary Bargain Hunter (2008, McGraw Hill) She is a frequent speaker and financial commentator. Lauren comes from a very adventurous family and she shares family stories going back to her Grandmother's climbing and rafting trips, to a cross country trip in a hea

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Arno Ilgner. Arno distinguished himself as a pioneering rock climber in the 1970s and 80s. In 1995, after searching the literature and practice of mental training, Ilgner formalized his methods, created The Warrior’s Way, and began teaching full time. Ilgner has taught clinics across the U.S.A. and abroad. He holds a BA in Geology, operated a geological consulting firm, acted as CFO for a company, and attended the Army Ranger School. He lives and climbs in Tennessee. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Nancy East who recently wrote; Chasing the Smokies Moon. Nancy East is an avid hiker and backpacker. After a 23 year career as a small animal veterinarian, she retired to pursue her passion as a writer, hiking guide and speaker. She is a member of the Haywood County's Search and Rescue Team, a founding board member of the WNC Wilderness Safety Fund, a Gossamer Gear Ambassador, and a Southern Appalachian Naturalist. Nothing brings her more joy professionally than educating her fellow hikers about how to stay "safe and found". In 2019, she and her good friend, Chris Ford, set the fastest known time (FKT) for a mixed-gender team on the Tour de LeConte Challenge. In 2020, they set the overall FKT for the Smokies 900 Challenge. Nancy has hiked all the trails in the Smoky Mountains National Park four times, and she continues to go back for more. When she's not on the trail, Nancy is a mother to three children and a wife to her high school sweetheart. Thanks for listening!

This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Laura Marsh. Laura is a field ornithologist and conservation biologist. She is the founder of Nova Conservation, an organization dedicated to connecting adventurers to conservation biology by providing unique, research-focused, ethical ecotours. She has worked as a biologist at various institutions, including the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Laura also volunteers at Chattanooga Audubon Society and other conservation societies when she's not chasing birds in the field or her two young boys around the house. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Kurt Smith. Kurt Smith grew up in Lake Tahoe and first faced off with Yosemite’s big walls and rock climbs in 1980. 41 years and thousands of routes later, his accomplishments include three years of competing on the National and World Cup circuit, with wins at the Nationals, twelfth place at the World Cup in 1992, plus a top-20 ranking. He has spent 4 decades opening up new routes in Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Clear Creek Canyon, Rifle, El Potrero Chico, Mexico and other popular climbing areas, with a mission to create “the best lines regardless of the grade.” With over 500 First Ascents under his belt he is not slowing down in his quest for new lines. But the apogee of his involvement with climbing may be his affiliation and work with the Access Fund (www.accessfund.org) over the years, and his Kickin’ Access Tours. Rock & Ice Magazine named the Kickin Access Tour number 7 of the "Top 10 Most Important Climbing Events of 2001." Kurt spent 6 years crisscrossing the c

This week Dawson and Clint talked with Marc Hunt. If you have ever enjoyed a day of kayaking, canoeing, or rafting on the Ocoee, then you have Marc to thank! Marc was the co-founder of Sunburst Adventures - the first outfitter to operate on the Ocoee. His journey includes passion - business - court rooms - politics - and yes, a lot of paddling! It's easy to take the memories made and the adventures experienced for granted, but the Ocoee as we know it today is not the Ocoee Marc experienced in the 70's. It took building a business, learning how to market that business, and an epic battle with TVA! He has paddled many rivers in the U.S, plus Central and South America and Nepal. Marc has sat on a number of non-profit boards and served as an advisor for initiatives that are designed to give back and protect the outdoors that we all love so much. His wife, Cat Potts, and his son, Colin Hunt, are both accomplished paddlers as well. They live in Asheville, Nc and even though Marc has paddled rivers around the world

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Brad DeVaney Head of Product Development at Litespeed Bicycles. Brad's life on the bike began at 5 and at eight years old he went from top regional BMX racer to national level talent, traveling the country on a national circuit as a factory team rider for Schwinn. As DeVaney grew, so too did his love of riding; if there was a start line and finish line, DeVaney was in. He raced for a road team in the mid ’80s that provided the team with used Team 7-Eleven bikes—providing DeVaney his first experience riding a titanium bike. In the late ‘80s, he discovered a penchant for triathlon, and mountain bike racing. While working in shops, doing wheel builds and even his own custom frame painting job on the side while in college in the late 1980s, DeVaney would occasionally build show bikes for Litespeed in Chattanooga. The work led to a part-time gig, and with a mind full of concepts and ideas, he challenged the company—during an era of pretty staid round-tubed designs— on how t

This week Dawson and Clint talk with the youngest calendar-year Triple Crowners - Sammy Potter and Jackson Parell – both 21 years old! It all started on January 1st of this year and concluded on October 22nd and in those 10 months; their journey took them over 8,000 miles of trails and culminated in the completion of the Appalachian Trail, The Pacific Crest Trail, and The Continental Divide Trail. We covered a lot of ground and shared a lot of stories in our conversation: logistics, gear, motivation, personalities, animal encounters, challenges, and much more! Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Joe Pulliam. Joe, is best known as co-founder and long-time CEO of Dagger, Joe began canoeing in the late 1960’s, and started building and paddling kayaks in 1973. He entered the outdoor industry full-time in 1982 as director of marketing and sales of Perception. In 1988, with three others he founded Dagger, which became one of the most successful paddlesports businesses in history. Joe led a successful sale of Dagger in 1998, then worked for Watermark Sports, the acquiring company for seven years, as executive vice president, and was deeply involved in several acquisitions made by Watermark. From 2005 until 2017, he was an independent consultant, focused primarily on the outdoor industry, with the final 8 years of that span focused entirely on Jackson Kayak. Joe also co-founded The Whitewater Company, a rafting outfitter on the Pigeon River in Tennessee. He has served on numerous paddlesports boards, including the American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, var