BLISTER Podcast

Mt. Everest: for some people, it still represents the holy grail of adventure. For others, it conjures up images of long queues, lots of trash, and a tourism industry that has gotten out of hand. So what is the truth about Everest, and why does it generate such strong feelings for so many of us?Our guest today is Adrian Ballinger, a climber, skier, mountain guide, and the founder and CEO of Alpenglow Expeditions. Adrian does an outstanding job of explaining the multiple sides of Everest, and the many different ways to approach it.RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredBlister Summit 2025TOPICS & TIMES:First Love: Skiing, Climbing, Or Mountaineering (6:53)Progression in Skiing High Peaks (13:46)Your Season on Everest (15:47)North Side vs South Side of Everest (24:06)How Accessible Should Everest Be? (34:57)Supplemental Oxygen (38:27)Alpenglow Expeditions’ “Rapid Ascent” (47:32)Other Mountains that Deserve More Attention? (56:13)Fixing High-Altitude Mountaineering & Outdoor Sports Culture (1:01:20)The Need for more Female Guides (1:05:25)Adrian’s Duffel Shuffle Podcast (1:10:41)

We talk with U.S. Ski Hall of Famer, Mike Hattrup, about his days as a competitive mogul skier; being featured in iconic ski films like ‘The Blizzard of AAHHH’s’; his decades working in gear testing and development; and his latest role with Eleven Experience.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Eleven ExperienceTOPICS & TIMES:Sun Valley, Idaho (3:25)Mogul Skiing (7:41)Filming with Greg Stump (13:31)From Moguls to the Aiguille du Midi (16:45)Backcountry Safety Back Then (18:30)Mountain Guiding (21:21)Gear Nerdery (24:19)Mcconkey & the Pontoon (36:55)Mike’s New Role w/ Eleven Experience (42:57)Remaining Bucket List Ski Destinations? (53:38)More on being the “Director Of Skiing” (55:22)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTED GEAR:30Bikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch

Last week, we lost Bill Walton, one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, and a person with an all-time love of bikes. Today, I talk about what Bill meant to me personally, and we’re republishing here the conversation I had with Bill back on our Bikes & Big Ideas podcast. If you didn’t know Bill, you should listen to this conversation. And if you did know Bill, this conversation will make clear why so many people love him, and were inspired by him.RELATED LINKS:Video: Our conversation with Bill WaltonGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Jonathan’s Thoughts on Bill (0:16)Bill’s life-long love of bikes (7:59)Top-5 NBA ‘bike guys’? (21:09)Best cardio guys in the NBA? (25:50)Music, Bob Dylan, & the Dead (27:31)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30CRAFTED Off The Couch

Our guest is Eric Blehm, author of The Darkest White., a book we think every snowboarder and skier should read. Today, we go behind the scenes with Eric to talk about the legend Craig Kelly; Eric’s extensive research on this project; and why The Darkest White is really (at least) 6 books in 1.RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: bagbalm.comGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30CRAFTED Off The CouchTOPICS & TIMES:What Inspired The Darkest White? (4:13)The Six Aspects of Craig’s Story (8:11)Avalanche Education (22:45)Early Snowboarding Culture & Companies (27:05)The Darkest White vs. Eric’s Previous Books? (34:54)Keeping Stories Alive (44:24)

If you love skiing, snowboarding, trail running, or mountain biking, then why the hell do you need to know about things like short-term rentals, zoning codes, and accessory dwelling units? Because those things will impact whether or not you will be able to continue to ski, snowboard, run, bike, or live in some of your favorite places. So Troy Russ is back for another conversation about what we need to know — and do — re: housing issues and mountain town economics.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Our Previous Housing Conversations:6) Blister Summit ‘23: Mtn Town Economics5) Zack Giffin: Tiny Houses, Big Solutions5) Bjarne Salén: The Fifty Project & Tiny Homes3) Mtn Town Economics w/ Scott Ehlert 2) Mtn Town Economics w/ Troy Russ1) Mtn Town Economics w/ Dr. Jenny StuberTOPICS & TIMES:Troy’s Current Role & Background (5:15)Updates On Previous Mtn Town Economics Conversations (12:17)Short-Term Rentals: Ideal Implementation? (22:37)Housing Stock & Affordability (27:02)Accessory Dwelling Units & Zoning Codes (36:31)Best Ideas Going Forward (43:21)How To Get Involved w/ Local Change? (47:52)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30CRAFTED Off The Couch

Dr. Len Necefer (founder of the Sonoran Avalanche Center & NativesOutdoors) is back to discuss cloud seeding; the passing of the EXPLORE Act; trigger warnings; the most Italian news?; skiing on mushroom moguls; what we’re reading & watching; and more.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Len’s Substack: All At OnceTOPICS & TIMES:Len’s Trip Up the CO River (5:04)U.S. College Campus Protests (8:37)Cloud Seeding (30:42)House Passes the EXPLORE Act (42:38)The Most Italian News (46:21)What We’re Reading & Watching (50:36)Graham Zimmerman, A Fine LineJohn Farella, The Main StalkBrendan Leonard, Ultra-Something Fantastic FungiSkiing Mushroom Moguls? (1:11:21)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30CRAFTED Off The Couch

So who was really behind the creation of BLISTER, how did the whole thing get started, and was it actually due to a misunderstanding over a couple of beers on the weekend of Independence Day, 2010? Today, Jonathan Ellsworth and Michael Clarke discuss all of the above, as well as giant tortoises, some keys to long-lasting friendships, and more.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Michael’s Role In Blister’s Existence (and Tortoises) (3:18)Michael’s Skiing Background (10:08)Jonathan’s Intro to Skiing (15:06)Forming Opinions on Skis (20:44)How Blister Started Reviewing Gear (25:46)Outsider’s Perspective on the Ski Industry (31:29)What’s Changed Since Blister Started? (38:12)What Would You Do Differently? (45:35)Longevity & Assessing Risk (52:48)Maintaining Long-Lasting Friendships (1:04:44)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTED GEAR:30Bikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch

Mountain Gazette owner, Mike Rogge, is back to discuss the ongoing feud I have with him; media coverage of the eclipse; two stories from the soon-to-be-released MG #201; what we’re reading and watching (including Bluey, Road House, and why Rogge often tells people to watch the movie, Cocktail with Tom Cruise), and more.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Our Ongoing Feud (3:34)Media Eclipse Coverage (11:17)Last Issue: #200 (15:24)Next Issue: #201 (25:26)Katie Burrell’s piece (27:11)Appalachian Trail piece (34:38)What We’re Reading & Watching (40:25)Blister Cinematic Tease (50:09)How to Get MG issue #201 (51:16)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTED GEAR:30Bikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch