Blister Podcast

Jonathan Ellsworth talks to Taiga Motors CEO & co-founder, Sam Bruneau, about the world's first electric snowmobile on the Blister Podcast.

Making the 1st Electric Snowmobile: Taiga Motors (Ep.92)

While more and more electric cars are hitting the streets, Taiga Motors is about to bring the world’s first commercial electric snowmobiles to the backcountry and ski areas. So we talked with Taiga Motors CEO & co-founder, Sam Bruneau, about taking the electric snowmobile from a college project to an actual business; and we get into the specifics of charging a Taiga, and how these electric sleds measure up against gas-powered ones in terms of power, torque, weight, range, and performance in harsh temperatures.

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Pro skier, Mark Abma, talks with Jonathan Ellsworth about Abma's career, lifestyle, inspirations, and more on the Blister Podcast

Mark Abma’s Regimen for Skiing Well & Living Well (Ep.91)

For a long time now, Mark Abma has stood right at the center of big-mountain skiing. So we talk to him about living with JP Auclair, Julien Regnier, and Anthony Boronowski; filming with Shane McConkey, Hugo Harrison, and Ingrid Backstrom; serving as a guide for a new generation of skiers; and the specific fitness, dietary, and health regimen that keeps Mark functioning at a high level on and off the mountain.

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Jonathan Ellsworth discusses James Buehler's snowboard descent of Ciochetti's Ribbon on the BLISTER Podcast

James Buehler on Riding the Ribbon, Devil’s Castle (Ep.90)

You may have seen last week some pretty mind-blowing (and terrifying) footage of a snowboarder negotiating the Ribbon on Devil’s Castle at Alta. So we talked to James Buehler about his apparent first descent with Alex Gavic of the Ribbon on a snowboard, and James walks us through the technical aspects of the route; his preparation for the line; the mental and physical demands it imposes; encountering multiple cruxes; the “Ronald McDonald Grin”; and what’s next on his list.

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Jonathan Ellsworth talks to ski racer and big-mountain skier, Travis Ganong, on the BLISTER Podcast

Travis Ganong: U.S. Ski Racer + Backcountry & Big-Mtn Skier (Ep.89)

Travis Ganong might be the most well-rounded skier in the world (just listen to this conversation), and he is certainly one of the most passionate. He’s a Team U.S.A. downhiller and Super G racer, and he is also obsessed with backcountry touring and big-mtn skiing. So we talk about all of it: racing & training; catching the attention of Shane McConkey as a kid; backcountry skiing; and more.

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Jonathan Ellsworth talks to WhistlePig Whiskey CMO, Jason Newell, on the BLISTER Podcast

Racing, Rossignol, & Rye Whiskey (Ep.88)

We went to Shoreham, Vermont, to talk with Jason Newell about his transition from ski racing, to working with the Rossignol Group for 25 years, to his latest adventure in a whole new category: whiskey. (Plus a story or two involving duct tape, Candide Thovex, and burning couches.)

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Jonathan Ellsworth talks to Dierdre Wolownick about her new book, "The Sharp End of Life" on the Blister Podcast

Dierdre Wolownick, The Sharp End of Life (Ep.87)

In some circles, Dierdre Wolownick is best known as Alex Honnold’s mom. But she is also the oldest woman to climb El Cap, an author, teacher, linguist, musician, marathon runner, and someone who continues to push her comfort zone. We talk to Dierdre about her new book The Sharp End of Life: A Mother’s Story; what shaped her philosophy of parenting; how she’s become more courageous with age; and the importance of continuing to push past limits.

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Biker on White Rim trail in Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah.

Blister Speaker Series 1.4: Ashley Korenblat (Ep.86)

Ashley Korenblat is the former chair of IMBA, currently owns Western Spirit Cycling and Outerbike, is the founder and managing director of Public Land Solutions, is on the advisory board for the Outdoor Industry Association, and she is a member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. We talked to Ashley about her trajectory, and about the critical issues surrounding public lands policies and debates that we all need to understand and participate in.

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Angela Hawse on the eastern face of Castle Peak in 2018

The Guide Life with AMGA President, Angela Hawse (Ep.85)

Angela Hawse is the president of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), and is certified to the highest international mountain guide standards. We talk to her about how she got into guiding; the various roles she has taken on in her career; what advice she would offer to aspiring guides; her company Chicks Climbing and Skiing, her work with POW Climb, and more.

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Jonathan Ellsworth interviews Flylow President & Co-Founder, Dan Abrams, during the Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University

Blister Speaker Series 1.3: Dan Abrams, Flylow (Ep.84)

Our 3rd Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University was with Dan Abrams, president and co-founder of Flylow. Dan gets into the details of running an outerwear company, and in doing so, offers insight into maintaining perspective while under pressure, how he approaches risky decisions, making the most of bad situations, and more.

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Zoetica Founders Karen Hoskin & Elizabeth Smith

Zoetica: Solutions to the Global Recycling & Trash Crisis (Ep.82)

Trash is a growing global crisis, and currently, the majority of “recycled” products are still ending up in landfills or being burned. So we discuss the crisis, the myths, and the solutions to these problems with the founders of Zoetica, who are working to help us rethink these issues and take concrete actions to address them.

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Kristen Ulmer discusses fear and how to cope with it on the Blister podcast

Kristen Ulmer on the Art of Fear (Ep.80)

Kristen Ulmer was once the best female big mountain skier in the world, and many regarded her as fearless. But she wasn’t fearless, and her ways of coping with fear took a heavy toll on her. Kristen has since become a specialist of this deeply misunderstood emotion, so we discuss how we can all develop a healthier relationship with fear in any and every area of our lives.

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Kelly Clark discusses her 20-year career; her book "Inspired"; and more on the Blister Podcast

Snowboarder Kelly Clark on Her 20-Year Career (Ep.79)

The winningest snowboarder in history, Kelly Clark, recently retired after an astonishing 20-year career of competition. So we talked to Kelly about that career; the new limited-edition “RISE” snowboard she designed with Burton; how snowboarding has evolved; her relationship with Chloe Kim; the mission of the Kelly Clark Foundation; her extremely important thoughts on “achievement” and “success”; and what’s next for her.

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Cody Townsend discusses his FIFTY project on the Blister Podcast

Cody Townsend on The FIFTY Project (Ep.78)

We talk to Cody Townsend about his massive new undertaking to ski 50 classic North American lines. We discuss his approach to the project; how it’s going so far; dealing with its incredibly tricky logistics; which lines are the most daunting; the line he’d just skied; what gear he is using; and more.

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Brendan Leonard of Semi-Rad.com speaking at the Blister Speaker Series at Western University

Blister Speaker Series 1.1 – Brendan Leonard, Semi-Rad.com

We just held the inaugural Blister Speaker Series event at Western Colorado University with Brendan Leonard — author, filmmaker, and creator of semi-rad.com. So here is that live conversation where we talk with Brendan about work, work ethic, creativity, and how to keep from compromising your vision in whatever field you are passionate about pursuing.

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Eric Hjorleifson discusses the Matchstick Productions Movie "HOJI" on the Blister Podcast

HOJI on “HOJI” (Ep.75)

Few people are so good at what they do that they can have a film made about their life and career while they’re still in the middle of both. But Eric Hjorleifson is one of those people, so we talked to Hoji about the new Matchstick movie and more.

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Elyse Saugstad on the Blister Podcast

Elyse Saugstad, Big Mtn Skier (Ep.74)

We talk with Elyse about filming the new MSP movie, All In; growing up in Alaska; her work with Safe As Clinics; figure skating and fantasy football (?); and the value of repeatedly finding new ways to challenge yourself.

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Glen Morden, VP of Product Innovation at Patagonia, on the Blister Podcast

Product Innovation at Patagonia, with Glen Morden (Ep.72)

Glen Morden has an extremely cool job — he’s the head of Product Innovation at Patagonia. So we talked to Glen about his background and how he got this position, then Glen pulls back the curtain on the product design process at Patagonia, what he and his colleagues are currently most concerned with, and what sorts of projects are on the horizon.

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Bullying in Outdoor Sports: Reaction & Responsibilities, Blister Podcast

Bullying in Outdoor Sports: Reactions & Responsibilities (Ep.71)

Last week, professional climber, Sascha Digulian, announced that she has been bullied for years by a fellow pro climber. A firestorm of responses ensued, and sponsorships were terminated. So we discuss why this is more than just some isolated issue in the climbing world; whether the brand sponsors did the right thing; and what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate responses — by each of us — to situations like this.

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Blister Podcast

Venture Snowboards: Building in Silverton, CO (Ep. 68)

We went to Silverton, Colorado, to talk to the founders of Venture Snowboards about how & why Venture does things different from most snowboard companies; building boards from scratch in Silverton; “greenwashing” in the snowsports industry; current trends in board design, and more.

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Karen Crouse discusses her book, Norwich, on the Blister Podcast

New York Times sportswriter, Karen Crouse (Ep.65)

We talk to Karen Crouse about her new book on the history and principles of the Olympian incubator town of Norwich, Vermont; the current state of the Olympics; and how all-time achievers like Michael Phelps and Tiger Woods have informed her thoughts on the price of greatness.

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Blister Podcast

Matt Manser, Atomic Ski Boots (Ep.63)

We talk to the global product manager of Atomic ski boots about how a kid from a little town in New York got that position, how his study of philosophy helped him get there, the design decisions behind the Atomic Hawx Ultra & Ultra XTD boots, and more.

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