BLISTER Podcast BLISTER

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 Covered
Blister Summit 2025
TOPICS & 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)


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We talk to professional climber Sasha DiGiulian about her unconventional journey, major setbacks, & remarkable achievements in & beyond the climbing world. Plus, we go behind the scenes of the new documentary about her story - which debuts on 6.18.24 - Here to Climb.
RELATED LINKS:
Bag Balm
BLISTER+ Climbers, Get Yourself Covered
TOPICS & TIMES:
Sasha’s new film: Here to Climb (3:07)
Injuries & Obstacles (5:19)
How have 5 surgeries changed how you climb? (8:59)
How has making this film changed you? (19:05)
Feeling like an outsider (21:17)
Lynn Hill (25:50)
Conformity & Outdoor Communities (28:22)
Going to Columbia University (30:55)
Weight Issues in the Climbing World (35:10)
Logical Progression (44:30)


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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 Experience
TOPICS & 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 Cinematic
CRAFTED 
GEAR:30
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch


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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 Walton
Get 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 Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
CRAFTED 
Off The Couch

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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.
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Episode Sponsor: bagbalm.com
Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
CRAFTED 
Off The Couch
TOPICS & 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)


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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 Economics
5) Zack Giffin: Tiny Houses, Big Solutions
5) Bjarne Salén: The Fifty Project & Tiny Homes
3) Mtn Town Economics w/ Scott Ehlert 
2) Mtn Town Economics w/ Troy Russ
1) Mtn Town Economics w/ Dr. Jenny Stuber
TOPICS & 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 Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
CRAFTED 
Off The Couch

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