Podcasts | BLISTER Outdoor Media & Gear Reviews

Craft N/A Cocktails & Why They Matter More Than You Think (Ep.75)

June 25, 2025June 25, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Craft N/A Cocktails are on the rise, but there is still much that needs to evolve in this space. Jonathan Ellsworth and our CRAFTED co-host (and professional mixologist) Eli Brown discuss, and you’ll learn why fast-growing whiskey company, Uncle Nearest, is so interested in the N/A space.

‘Unbreakable: The Western States 100’ w/ Cody Townsend & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.42)

June 24, 2025June 24, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Cody and Jonathan discuss what many regard as the greatest ultra film of all time, ‘Unbreakable.’ It documents the 2010 running of Western States, and the 2025 race happens this Saturday, June 28.

Hoji, Marcus Caston, Nick Russell, & Chris Davenport: Life Updates, Mtn-Town Advice, Trip Reports, & More (Ep.362)

June 23, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We brought together some legends of snowsports — Hoji, Marcus, Nick, & Dav — and asked them to share some life updates; their best mountain-town (and relationship) advice; trip reports & travel stories; & more.

Southern Hemisphere Skiing, Sustainability, & Shop Strategies w/ Outside Sports (Ep.352)

June 20, 2025June 20, 2025 by Kara Williard

Today, we head south to the snow, and back behind the counter at Outside Sports in New Zealand. We talk about the gear and innovations they're stoked on; what it takes to keep a mountain town business thriving; sustainability from a local shop’s perspective, and more.

David Golay riding the Santa Cruz Bronson

Reviewer Reports: New Bikes, Shimano Di2, & More (Ep.279)

June 19, 2025 by David Golay

We’ve been testing a massive amount of new gear, including Shimano’s first wireless MTB drivetrain, a ton of new bikes, and a whole lot more. So we got the gang together to talk about a bunch of it.

The Madness of Nile Zacherle, Mad Fritz Brewing (Ep.74)

June 18, 2025June 18, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Madness. That’s what you call it when a former sponsored skateboarder gets a Ph.D. in fermentation, then starts brewing super-premium beer in Napa Valley.

‘Forrest Gump’ w/ Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.41)

June 17, 2025June 17, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Forrest Gump premiered on June 23, 1994, and Tom Hanks won the Oscar for Best Actor. But according to Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com), the real story is that Gump introduced millions of people to ultrarunning. Brendan and Jonathan discuss that and a whole lot more.

Jib League & the Future of Freeskiing with Woodsy (Ep.361)

June 16, 2025 by Luke Koppa

We talk with James Woods (aka Woodsy) about how he and fellow pro skiers, Ferdinand Dahl and Oystein Braaten, created Jib League to fill voids that they were noticing in the freeskiing world. The unique event series they created has been loved by athletes and viewers alike, and the story of how it came to be is just as interesting as all the absurd tricks put down by the riders at each stop.

In this panel discussion from Blister Summit 2025, we asked apparel designers from Patagonia, Flylow, Ortovox, and Rab to discuss what you should expect from the new generation of PFAS-free apparel; how it compares to what you’ve used in the past; and what you can do to make the most of it.

The New Rules of Apparel: PFAS, What’s Changed, & What It Means for You (Ep.351)

June 13, 2025 by Luke Koppa

In this panel discussion from Blister Summit 2025, we asked apparel designers from Patagonia, Flylow, Ortovox, and Rab to discuss what you should expect from the new generation of PFAS-free apparel; how it compares to what you’ve used in the past; and what you can do to make the most of it.

Chris McCaffrey on Riding His Bike Around the World (Ep.278)

June 12, 2025 by David Golay

The day after he submitted his final college paper, Chris McCaffrey set off to ride his bike around the world. He made it back to his hometown of Boulder, CO, seventeen months later. The story of the trip is a wild, inspiring, beautiful one, and you don’t want to miss it.

Steve Matthiasson on Wine, Punk Rock, Bikes, & Fireworks (Ep.73)

June 20, 2025June 11, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Steve is one of the most respected winemakers in Napa Valley, and he produces wines that buck some of the most fashionable trends in the valley. Steve is also a passionate mountain biker and snowboarder, a teacher, and a wine consultant; today, we dive into all of these aspects.

‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.40)

June 10, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

On June 10, 1982, ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ premiered in the USA. This Steven Spielberg film won multiple Oscars, became the most successful film of all time, and caused a huge spike in bike sales. So today, we revisit one of the most significant films in movie history.

Blister Book Club: ‘Everest, Inc.’ w/ author, Will Cockrell (Ep.360)

June 10, 2025June 9, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jonathan talks with Will Cockrell about his excellent book, Everest, Inc. They discuss the fascinating history of guiding on Everest, the evolution of that industry, and the broader topic of the ethics, principles, and parameters of guiding in general, anywhere.

Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 2: State of Shops; Gear Wins & Fails; & the Future of Each (Ep.350)

June 6, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Today, we take a look at the state of ski shops vs bike shops; what each industry is doing to grow participation and engagement in their sport; gear wins and fails; and our reviewers weigh in on which industry has the brighter future.

Some showmanship before the final stage of the 2025 Giro d’Italia

Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, May 2025 (Ep. 277)

June 5, 2025 by Simon Stewart

Mike and Simon discuss the exciting start to mountain bike World Cup DH racing, the fantastic Giro d'Italia, Christopher Blevins' domination, Mathieu van der Poel’s rough day on a mountain bike, some good industry news, and a whole lot more.

America’s Founding Spirit & the Most Important Distillery You’ve Never Heard Of (Ep.72)

June 4, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Brandy doesn’t get the love that it deserves, given that it was America’s founding spirit, and no category has a bigger folk hero tied to it (Johnny Appleseed, anyone?). Today, we’re talking about all things brandy with Clear Creek Distillery.

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, April / May 2025 (Ep.359)

June 2, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Cody and Jonathan discuss Rob Katz’s return as the CEO of Vail; what’s going on with REI; the sale of Pieps; the latest way to speed up Mt. Everest; the Most Canadian News; the return of the Blister Book Club; what we’re reading & watching; and more.

In past years, we’ve done a series called ‘Bikes vs Skis’ where we’ve posed the question: Which bike company is most like which ski company? But today our team is zooming out and comparing the ski vs bike industry to identify the significant similarities and differences; assess the relative health of each; and see how the trends in one might align with trends in the other.

Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 1: Similarities, Differences, Trends, & the Health of Each (Ep.349)

May 30, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

In past years, we’ve done a series called ‘Bikes vs Skis’ where we’ve posed the question: Which bike company is most like which ski company? But today our team is zooming out and comparing the ski vs bike industry to identify the significant similarities and differences; assess the relative health of each; and see how the trends in one might align with trends in the other.

The Transformation of Esker Cycles w/ Tim Krueger (Ep.276)

May 29, 2025 by Simon Stewart

In today’s conversation, Simon talks with Esker Cycles founder Tim Krueger about being a small bike brand during difficult years in the bike industry, saying goodbye to carbon fiber, their new metal bikes, focusing on affordability, and more.

On CRAFTED, Eli is joined by fellow Blister contributor Zack Henderson to talk all things paella. What started as a casual interest has turned into a full-blown culinary rabbit hole — and they dig into everything from technique to tradition, with some very unconventional twists. In this episode they dive into the mysteries of the socarrat; explore a Pacific Northwest take on the dish; and brainstorm potential flavor combinations (some more plausible than others). Along the way, we talk table beer, saffron, Fernet, and confront Eli’s long-running rice curse.

Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Zack Henderson, on Paella (Ep.71)

May 28, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Today on CRAFTED, Eli is joined by fellow Blister contributor Zack Henderson to talk all things paella. We dive into the mysteries of the socarrat; explore a Pacific Northwest take on the dish; brainstorm potential flavor combinations, and more.

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