Brendan Leonard: Resisting the Algorithm
In our latest Open Mic piece, Brendan Leonard writes about modern life, real discoveries, and the essence of adventure.
Jonathan Ellsworth
Brendan Leonard (@semi_rad) on Fatherhood; Creative Work; & the Nuts-&-Bolts of Making Just about Anything (Ep.263)
Brendan Leonard (@semi_rad) is back to talk about fatherhood; creative work and the nuts-and-bolts of creating; and his new book, MAKE IT, which is an easily digestible guide to making just about anything, actually.
Bravus Brewing Company: Elevating NA Beer (Ep.27)
Not all beer is created equal, and that certainly goes for NA beer, too. So what’s the secret? We talk with Bravus Brewing Company founder, Philip Brandes, to learn more.
Pre-Order Now: Our 23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Pre-order your print and/or digital copy of the biggest, most honest, accurate, and genuinely useful buyer's guide in the ski industry. Includes 300+ skis, 70+ boots, & much more.
Pre-order now to get the guide at a great discount + be first to receive your copy!
Leilani Bruntz: Crepitus — An Accident Report
When things go wrong in the mountains, we need to share these stories and see what we all can learn. In our latest Open Mic, professional guide, Leilani Bruntz, shares her recent experience of a difficult day in the mountains.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (May 2023) (Ep.262)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the case for climate optimism; this season’s record number of skier visits; Super El Nino; the Most Canadian News; mountain town advice (including a new pick-up line for mtn towns?); and of course, Succession.
Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 3 (Ep.247)
Which ski company is most similar to which bike company? What’s the latest incendiary thing that will come out of Dylan Wood’s mouth? This final installment of our 4th edition is another fun one.
New Tech / Safety Gear in the Backcountry | Blister Summit 2023 Video
Alexander Cernichiari (Ortovox) and Paul Forward (heli-ski guide, physician, & Blister reviewer) provide a state of the union on technology’s role in the backcountry and the related safety gear, and answer questions regarding avalanche airbags, interference between avalanche beacons and other electronics, apps that aim to identify avalanche terrain, the capabilities — and limits — of smartphones, and more.
Adventures in HomeBrewing, Distilling, & Coffee Roasting + the Launch of Calibration Coffee Lab (Ep.26)
Before Alex LeBlanc started Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina, he was a mechanical engineer, a home brewer, home distiller, and a home coffee roaster. So what led him to leave the world of engineering to start a coffee company, and how did he go about doing it?
Mary McIntyre: How to Have X without X
In our latest Open Mic piece, Mary McIntyre writes about love, loss, and how to get to the bottom of what we really want.
Icelantic Skis Founder, Ben Anderson, on the Lucky Breaks, Tough Beats, & Key Moments in Building Icelantic (Ep.261)
We talk to Ben Anderson about the lucky breaks and tough beats he experienced along the way; where the name and their logo came from; working with Never Summer; prototyping & developing skis; how Icelantic got into the music business; and more.
Ski Binding Design with Hoji, Lars Chickering-Ayers, & Giray Dadali (Ep.246)
Hoji (Dynafit), Lars Chickering-Ayers (CAST Touring), and Giray Dadali (Daymaker Touring) discuss the past, present, and future of ski bindings; “acceptable use”; the “Age of Confusion” surrounding different binding designs; being “handcuffed by standards”; and more.
Mountain Town Economics | Blister Summit 2023 Video
We brought together reporter Jason Blevins (Colorado Sun & resident of Eagle County, CO), Dara McDonald (Crested Butte Town Manager), Jonathan Houck (Gunnison County Commissioner), Pete Wagner (Wagner Custom Skis & resident of Telluride, CO), and Paul Forward (Blister reviewer & resident of Girdwood, AK) for a wide-ranging conversation on the current challenges facing mountain towns and a number of potential solutions.
Drinking Gold: Coffee Gear, Pt. 3, with ON3P Skis’ founder, Scott Andrus (Ep.25)
Scott Andrus is back on CRAFTED to go deep into the weeds about the various gear options out there to make gold you can drink. We discuss the very inexpensive options; $1000 coffee grinders; Scott’s mind-blowing “Coffee Checklist for Jonathan”; and more.
Angel Collinson: Passages
In her latest Open Mic piece, Angel talks about course corrections, freedom and fear, magic and mirrors.
Deep Dives with Angel (May 2023) (Ep.260)
Angel Collinson just experienced “the best two weeks of my life,” so we discuss that; the process of self discovery; our series and why writing is often wrestling; and then Angel answers a number of questions that you had for her.
Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1 (Ep.245)
Which bike brand and which ski company is currently holding the ‘Cool Kids Belt’? Which brand do other companies secretly wish they could trade places with? We debate these questions and more in our latest edition of Bikes vs. Skis.
Guitars & Guitar Making with Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde (Ep.24)
Today we’re discussing all things guitars and guitar making with the publisher of the Fretboard Journal, Jason Verlinde, including where guitars are being made; boutique vs. mass market brands; who is pushing innovation; guitar quivers; the greatest guitarists ever; & more.
Hillary Allen: Share More, Compare Less
In our latest Open Mic, ultra runner and gravel cyclist Hillary Allen discusses the danger of comparisons and finding connection in our struggles.
BOA & the Death of Buckles? 23/24 Ski Boot Design | Blister Summit 2023 Video
Ski Boot Design: how did we get here, and where are we headed? We brought together ski boot designers, Tom Pietrowski (K2), Christoph Lentz (Fischer), Riccardo Bonaiti (Dalbello), and Ross Herr (Dynafit) for this conversation — and pro skier / designer / obsessive tinkerer, Hoji, joins in, too.