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Fitz Cahall: States of Adventures & Finding Yourself By Getting Lost
Manage episode 507139693 series 3523753
🎙️ Please make sure to click the 'Follow' the show - It really helps the show, Thanks!
Fitz Cahall—founder of The Dirtbag Diaries and co-founder of Duct Tape Then Beer—joins me to trace a life built around curiosity, craft, and the wild. We get into the nomadic childhood that pushed him outdoors, the dog-mauling that forged resilience, discovering climbing in Seattle, and the early podcasting leap that turned unsold magazine stories into a movement. We talk States of Adventure (DK), how to choose stories that reflect a lifetime outdoors, making inclusive adventure culture, and the 50-day Sierra traverse with Becca that reset his compass. We also explore creative stamina, running a mission-driven studio, and building family identity through shared time outside—plus Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold, and where audio can still surprise us.
What you’ll learn
- How childhood instability became a foundation for autonomy, authenticity, and adventure
- The moment podcasting “clicked” and scaled from 30 friends to thousands overnight
- Anatomy of States of Adventure: selecting 30 stories that mirror a life lived outside
- Why inclusive, everyday adventures expand the ecosystem (burro racing, rollerblading Iowa, etc.)
- Sustaining creative passion for 18 years without burning out
- Designing a family life that keeps mountains and forests in the calendar
Memorable threads
- The power of medium choice: audio stories at the length they need
- Craft over clout: playful branding as a filter for the right partners
- Lessons from a stormy, illness-riddled, unforgettable Sierra crossing
- Curiosity as a daily practice—for interviews, parenting, and purposeful work
Resources & links mentioned
- The Dirtbag Diaries — https://www.dirtbagdiaries.com
- Duct Tape Then Beer — https://www.ducttapethenbeer.com
- States of Adventure (DK) — https://www.dk.com
- National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com
- This American Life — https://www.thisamericanlife.org
- Climbing Gold (with Alex Honnold) — https://www.climbinggold.com
- Alex Honnold — https://www.alexhonnold.com
- Grand Canyon (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/grca
- Yosemite (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/yose
- RAGBRAI (Iowa cross-state ride) — https://www.ragbrai.com
- Pack Burro Racing — https://www.packburroracing.org
Episode takeaway
Adventure—as practice and culture—builds resilient creativity, community, and meaning when we protect curiosity and time outside.
Thanks For Listening.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.
Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates.
Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected].
AdventureDiaries.com
#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld
Chapters
1. The Impact of a Life-Changing Trip (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to The Adventure Diaries Podcast (00:01:20)
3. Meet Fitz Cahall: A Journey Through His Early Life (00:01:43)
4. The Influence of Constant Movement and the Outdoors (00:03:48)
5. Overcoming Adversity: Fitz's Childhood Challenges (00:07:12)
6. Discovering Climbing in University (00:11:26)
7. The Birth of The Dirt Bag Diaries (00:17:17)
8. The Passion for Storytelling and Podcasting (00:18:06)
9. Creating a Creative Agency: Duct Tape Then Beer (00:28:11)
10. The Inspiration Behind 'States of Adventure' (00:31:04)
11. Reflecting on 18 Years of Storytelling (00:43:40)
12. Visual Storytelling and Existential Crises (00:44:36)
13. Balancing Creativity and Adventure (00:46:48)
14. Memorable Adventures in the Sierra (00:50:34)
15. Family Adventures and Work-Life Balance (00:58:00)
16. Future Projects and Creative Endeavors (01:03:24)
17. The Climbing Gold Podcast with Alex Honnold (01:05:24)
18. Closing Thoughts and Advice (01:12:46)
114 episodes
Manage episode 507139693 series 3523753
🎙️ Please make sure to click the 'Follow' the show - It really helps the show, Thanks!
Fitz Cahall—founder of The Dirtbag Diaries and co-founder of Duct Tape Then Beer—joins me to trace a life built around curiosity, craft, and the wild. We get into the nomadic childhood that pushed him outdoors, the dog-mauling that forged resilience, discovering climbing in Seattle, and the early podcasting leap that turned unsold magazine stories into a movement. We talk States of Adventure (DK), how to choose stories that reflect a lifetime outdoors, making inclusive adventure culture, and the 50-day Sierra traverse with Becca that reset his compass. We also explore creative stamina, running a mission-driven studio, and building family identity through shared time outside—plus Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold, and where audio can still surprise us.
What you’ll learn
- How childhood instability became a foundation for autonomy, authenticity, and adventure
- The moment podcasting “clicked” and scaled from 30 friends to thousands overnight
- Anatomy of States of Adventure: selecting 30 stories that mirror a life lived outside
- Why inclusive, everyday adventures expand the ecosystem (burro racing, rollerblading Iowa, etc.)
- Sustaining creative passion for 18 years without burning out
- Designing a family life that keeps mountains and forests in the calendar
Memorable threads
- The power of medium choice: audio stories at the length they need
- Craft over clout: playful branding as a filter for the right partners
- Lessons from a stormy, illness-riddled, unforgettable Sierra crossing
- Curiosity as a daily practice—for interviews, parenting, and purposeful work
Resources & links mentioned
- The Dirtbag Diaries — https://www.dirtbagdiaries.com
- Duct Tape Then Beer — https://www.ducttapethenbeer.com
- States of Adventure (DK) — https://www.dk.com
- National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com
- This American Life — https://www.thisamericanlife.org
- Climbing Gold (with Alex Honnold) — https://www.climbinggold.com
- Alex Honnold — https://www.alexhonnold.com
- Grand Canyon (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/grca
- Yosemite (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/yose
- RAGBRAI (Iowa cross-state ride) — https://www.ragbrai.com
- Pack Burro Racing — https://www.packburroracing.org
Episode takeaway
Adventure—as practice and culture—builds resilient creativity, community, and meaning when we protect curiosity and time outside.
Thanks For Listening.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.
Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates.
Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected].
AdventureDiaries.com
#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld
Chapters
1. The Impact of a Life-Changing Trip (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to The Adventure Diaries Podcast (00:01:20)
3. Meet Fitz Cahall: A Journey Through His Early Life (00:01:43)
4. The Influence of Constant Movement and the Outdoors (00:03:48)
5. Overcoming Adversity: Fitz's Childhood Challenges (00:07:12)
6. Discovering Climbing in University (00:11:26)
7. The Birth of The Dirt Bag Diaries (00:17:17)
8. The Passion for Storytelling and Podcasting (00:18:06)
9. Creating a Creative Agency: Duct Tape Then Beer (00:28:11)
10. The Inspiration Behind 'States of Adventure' (00:31:04)
11. Reflecting on 18 Years of Storytelling (00:43:40)
12. Visual Storytelling and Existential Crises (00:44:36)
13. Balancing Creativity and Adventure (00:46:48)
14. Memorable Adventures in the Sierra (00:50:34)
15. Family Adventures and Work-Life Balance (00:58:00)
16. Future Projects and Creative Endeavors (01:03:24)
17. The Climbing Gold Podcast with Alex Honnold (01:05:24)
18. Closing Thoughts and Advice (01:12:46)
114 episodes
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