Jonathan Ellsworth, Author at BLISTER

Atomic global ski boot product manager, Matt Manser, is back on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast to discuss Atomic's 2021-2022 ski boot lineup; their "professional" series of boots, the Redster Clubsport series, professional dual strap, and more

A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 7: Atomic’s 21/22 Lineup (Ep.165)

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Matt Manser is back for a deep dive on Atomic’s new 21/22 lineup, and we also discuss ski boot design and construction in general; the “Frodo Pro”; “Complete Tech” vs. “Hybrid Tech”; espionage; Immanuel Kant; Omar Little; and to offer his take on Bode Miller’s recent GEAR:30 thoughts on ski boots.

Spencer Cordovano goes on the Blister Podcast to discuss his unusual path to Ketchum and mountain town politics, and why more people should get involved.

From G.N.A.R. Star to Mayor? Why Spencer Cordovano is Running for Office (Ep.183)

September 27, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

How does a ski bum go from starring in the beloved movie G.N.A.R. to running for mayor? And why? We talk with Spencer Cordovano to get some answers, and you’ll get to hear how and why Spencer went from ripping BN runs the movie G.N.A.R. to working to mobilize a certain constituency to make the mountain town he lives in and the community he loves … even better.

It is difficult to overstate the innovation that Eric Pollard has brought to modern skiing, and in this conversation, you’ll get to hear more about how Eric sees the world and finds himself pursuing new directions. We also talk about graphics; Season’s all-black topsheets; and each of the models in Season’s ski lineup.

Eric Pollard on Innovation, Graphics, & Season’s Ski Lineup (Ep.164)

September 24, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

It is difficult to overstate the innovation that Eric Pollard has brought to modern skiing, and in this conversation, you’ll get to hear more about how Eric sees the world and finds himself pursuing new directions. We also talk about graphics; Season’s all-black topsheets; and each of the models in Season’s ski lineup.

On our Off The Couch podcast, we talk to Anton Krupicka about his recent return to racing; his ongoing exploration of different ways to move through the mountains; we get his completely unfiltered take on Murakami’s What I Talk about When I Talk about Running; and more.

Anton Krupicka on His Return to Racing; DFW vs. Murakami; & More (Ep.96)

December 22, 2021September 21, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk to Anton Krupicka about his recent return to racing; his ongoing exploration of different ways to move through the mountains; we get his unfiltered take on Murakami’s What I Talk about When I Talk about Running; and more.

On our latest Blister Podcast, we talk to Austin Smith, the co-founder of Season Eqpt and the man in charge of the snowboard side of Season, while his co-founder, Eric Pollard, oversees the ski side of Season. Today you’ll get Austin’s perspective on Season and their 21/22 snowboard lineup (plus a whole bunch of other topics), and then this Friday on our GEAR:30 podcast, you’ll hear Eric offer his perspective on all the latest at Season.

Season Eqpt Co-Founder, Austin Smith, on Snowboarding, Telemarking, Comfy Boots, & Fire Truck Customization (Ep.182)

December 27, 2021September 20, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Austin Smith is the co-founder of Season Eqpt and the man in charge of the snowboard side of Season, while his co-founder, Eric Pollard, oversees the ski side. Today you’ll get Austin’s perspective on Season and their 21/22 snowboard lineup (plus a whole bunch of other topics), then on our GEAR:30 podcast, you’ll hear Eric offer his perspective on all the latest at Season.

On this episode of GEAR:30, Bode Miller makes clear that his different and creative ways of thinking weren’t just hallmarks of his approach to racing — they define his approach to skis, ski boots, bindings, and eyewear, too.

The Pro’s Gear: Bode Miller (Ep.163)

March 7, 2022September 17, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

On this episode of GEAR:30, Bode Miller makes clear that his different and creative ways of thinking weren’t just hallmarks of his approach to racing — they define his approach to skis, ski boots, bindings, and eyewear, too.

Olympian Natasha Wodak on Mental Preparation; Her Mantras; Running Playlists; & More (Ep.95)

December 22, 2021September 14, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk to Tasha Wodak about her performance in last month’s Olympic games; the twists and turns of her running career; mental preparation and the mantras that inspire her; a critical insight to remember during life’s hardest moments; running playlists; and more.

Gear Talk, Mic Drops, & Zen Koans with Flylow’s Dan Abrams (Ep.162)

September 11, 2021September 11, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Flylow founder (and certified gear nerd) Dan Abrams is back to talk about the skis and ski boots he’s interested in for the coming season; Flylow’s mountain bike apparel; and what’s new in the Flylow lineup for Winter 21/22.

Dean Karnazes on Longevity, Reading, & Writing (Ep.94)

September 7, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Dean Karnazes is an ultra running legend. But beyond his impressive endurance exploits, Dean is an incredibly thoughtful and generous person who just so happens to love running. It was a real honor and a true pleasure to talk to Dean about running, his life-long interest in reading, his approach to writing, and what he is currently passionate about outside of the world of running.

On our latest Blister Podcast, Cody and Jonathan discuss wildfire management; athlete sponsorships and why the current model needs to be fixed; emerging technologies designed to capture CO2; having to pay to ski uphill; the prospects of Airbnb returning to its roots; and they also fight about coffee, share what they’re reading and watching, and more.

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Aug 2021) (Ep.181)

September 6, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Cody and Jonathan discuss wildfire management; athlete sponsorships and why the current model needs to be fixed; emerging technologies designed to capture CO2; having to pay to ski uphill; the prospects of Airbnb returning to its roots; and they also fight about coffee, share what they’re reading and watching, and more.

Your Questions, Our Buyer’s Guide, & Luke’s Cry for Help (Ep.161)

December 22, 2021September 3, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth answer listener gear questions; share some info about our new winter buyer’s guide; and Luke shares with us some good news, but also presents new reasons for us to worry about him.

Today we’re kicking off a new series on Off The Couch, and Sanjay Rawal joins us to talk primarily about track and field at the Olympics, but we also talk about the Leadville 100, and the longest foot race in the world, the 3,100-mile Self Transcendence race in New York.

Running through the News (Aug 2021) (Ep.93)

August 31, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Today we’re kicking off a new series on Off The Couch, and Sanjay Rawal joins us to talk primarily about track and field at the Olympics, but we also talk about the Leadville 100, and the longest foot race in the world, the 3,100-mile Self Transcendence race in New York.

While we are dealing with the crisis of affordable housing, we are also dealing with a crisis of megafires. So on our latest Blister Podcast, we talk to Scott Ehlert, a developer based in Truckee, CA, to help explain how these two crises are related, and what solutions are available to mitigate both.

Mountain Town Economics, Pt 3: Developing Housing, Addressing Climate Change, & Mitigating Megafires (Ep.180)

August 30, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

While we are dealing with the crisis of affordable housing, we are also dealing with a crisis of megafires. And our guest today, Scott Ehlert, is here to make clear how these two crises are related, and what solutions are available to mitigate both.

Shop Talk: Spokane Alpine Haus (Ep.160)

August 27, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk with Rachel and Drew Harding, the owners of the Spokane Alpine Haus, about the ski scene in Spokane, Washington; the Alpine Haus’ massive equipment leasing program; interesting ways to destroy skis; kid’s gear; and more.

Annie Hughes is 23 years old and is quickly becoming a force in the world of ultra running. So yesterday on Off The Couch, we talked with Annie about her preparation for Leadville and the race itself; waiting tables; our idea to run for president (which is related to waiting tables); her plans to run the Moab 240 this October, and what she’s most excited about beyond this October.

2021 Leadville 100 Winner, Annie Hughes (Ep.92)

December 22, 2021August 25, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Annie Hughes is 23 years old and is quickly becoming a force in the world of ultra running. So we talked with Annie about her preparation for Leadville and the race itself; waiting tables; our idea to run for president (which is related to waiting tables); her plans to run the Moab 240 this October, and what she’s most excited about beyond this October.

Our guest today on the Blister Podcast is Troy Russ, the community development director of Crested Butte. Troy has a long history in community planning and development, so is able to provide an incredibly well-informed perspective on a broad range of topics, and there are a lot of relevant considerations and takeaways for mountain communities everywhere.

Mountain Town Economics, Pt 2: Housing, Community, & Core Values (Ep.179)

August 30, 2021August 23, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Our guest today is Troy Russ, the community development director of Crested Butte. Troy has a long history in community planning and development, so is able to provide an incredibly well-informed perspective on a broad range of topics, and there are a lot of relevant considerations and takeaways for mountain communities everywhere.

Blister Outdoor Gear review Crested Butte

Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design (Ep.159)

August 22, 2021August 19, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We are airing the panel session on ski design that we held at the Blister Summit. We talk to the designers behind the skis from Blizzard, Folsom Custom Skis, Rossignol, Dynastar, and Wagner Custom Skis to get their respective design philosophies; discuss current trends in ski design; debate whether skis are being dumbed down today; determine once and for all whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; & more.

On our Off The Couch podcast, we talk with Dakota Jones about how motivation evolves, different chapters of life, and what led to the launch of the Footprints Running Camp.

Dakota Jones on the Footprints Running Camp (Ep.91)

December 22, 2021August 18, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk with Dakota Jones about how motivation evolves, different chapters of life, and what led to the launch of the Footprints Running Camp.

Benji Alexander is a passionate ski racer and backcountry skier with a stranger-than-fiction backstory. So on the Blister Podcast we talk to Benji about how Burning Man got him into skiing; what inspired his Olympic aspirations; the numerous logistics he has had to navigate to make this happen; the financial hurdles that all Olympic hopefuls have to face; and what motivates him to keep pushing forward.

Benji Alexander’s Bid to Become Jamaica’s 1st Olympic Alpine Ski Racer (Ep.178)

December 22, 2021August 17, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Benji Alexander is a passionate ski racer and backcountry skier with a stranger-than-fiction backstory. So we talk to Benji about how Burning Man got him into skiing; what inspired his Olympic aspirations; the numerous logistics he has had to navigate to make this happen; the financial hurdles that all Olympic hopefuls have to face; and what motivates him to keep pushing forward.

Finally. The coffee episode. This week on GEAR:30, we’re doing a deep dive on coffee with Sam Higby of First Ascent. We discuss the difference between good and bad instant coffee; light roasts vs. dark roasts (and what some dark roasts have in common with hot sauce or double IPAs); the brewing process & brewing at altitude; how to make great coffee on a budget; and more.

A Very Deep Dive on Coffee (Ep.158)

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

You had to know we’d do this, right? We sat down with Sam Higby to talk about Sam’s time in the outdoor industry and in the coffee business; the difference between good and bad instant coffee; light roasts vs. dark roasts (and what some dark roasts have in common with hot sauce or double IPAs); the brewing process & brewing at altitude; how to make great coffee on a budget; and more.

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