BOLOTOR Podcast Michael Stein

Tyler began to explore the outdoors, starting with a hike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) driven more by a desire to stretch his savings than a love for nature.His interest in the outdoors developed gradually, influenced by friends and his time living in rural Japan, where he hiked mountains on weekends. Over time, outdoor activities became a significant part of his life, leading him to adopt a nomadic lifestyle in a van. Currently, Tyler is preparing for the Tour Divide, a 2,700-mile bikepacking race from Banff to the Mexican border. His website, Halfway Anywhere, started as a personal blog in 2011 and is now his full-time job and primary source of income. Despite the uncertainties of his journey, Tyler embraces a zen-like existence, focusing on living in the moment and enjoying his outdoor adventures.
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He describes his complete dedication to his outdoor adventure website, which has become his entire life. Tyler integrates his personal and professional life, often isolating himself from non-outdoor enthusiasts. He occasionally visits New York for short trips to see friends and family but primarily avoids urban settings in favor of the outdoors. Significant milestones in his journey include hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, the Continental Divide Trail in 2017, and living in Nepal to support his hiking lifestyle. Tyler has also biked across Australia, hiked the Japanese Alps, and recently focused on lesser-known trails and off-trail routes.
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Tyler plans to visit a campsite soon to perform "trail magic" for hikers by providing snacks, drinks, and rides into town—acts of unexpected kindness for hikers. His sister will join him for her first backpacking trip, despite challenging conditions. Tyler reflects on his love for the outdoors, acknowledging the risks but preferring this lifestyle over any other. He shares his updates on his website, Halfway Anywhere, and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his story.

Kimber enjoyed an active, nature-filled upbringing despite being born with a terminal transverse defect, resulting in an underdeveloped right hand. Her parents, particularly her supportive father, encouraged her to pursue her interests. Kimber's mother, who overcame a brain tumor and Cushing's disease, was initially worried but hopeful for Kimber's future. Her father focused on finding activities in which Kimber could excel.
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At 28, a breakup led Kimber and a friend to join the Mountaineers club, where they trained in rock climbing, glacier travel, and ice climbing. This training culminated in climbing Mount Olympus, the Tooth, and Mount Rainier within nine days. This transformative experience shifted her focus to climbing, leading her to become a semi-professional athlete while continuing her teaching career. Her heartbreak became the catalyst for a decade-long climbing journey supported by sponsors like North Face.
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Her supportive parents initially struggled with guilt and uncertainty about their child's future but now take pride in Kimber's achievements, following her journey through social media. Kimber is actively involved with the Mountaineers, having progressed from a skeptical reception due to her disability to becoming the chair of the committee. She continues to lead and mentor climbers, travel internationally, and plan future climbs, including personal milestones like getting married. Looking ahead, Kimber aims to tackle more significant climbs worldwide, including returning to Alaska. She is passionate about exploring and pushing the boundaries of what is possible for adaptive climbers.

Don Higgins, an avid deer hunter from Central Illinois, grew up with a deep love for the outdoors, inspired by his grandparents' farm. Despite the scarcity of deer during his youth, he shot his first deer at sixteen, igniting a lifelong passion for hunting. Dedicating himself solely to deer hunting, Higgins became an expert archery hunter. Over the decades, he established himself in the field, writing for major hunting magazines and authoring two books on deer hunting. He founded Real World Wildlife Products, a successful wildlife food plot seed company, and expanded his influence through his YouTube channel and the "Chasing Giants" podcast.
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Higgins manages a 160-acre property and oversees a team of consultants who assist clients in optimizing their properties for deer hunting. His strategies focus on creating environments that attract deer during daylight hours, carefully considering terrain, wind direction, and property layout. He prefers to have his venison processed locally, believing it tastes better than what he could make himself. Despite his busy schedule, he continues to raise beef cattle, favoring beef over venison.
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With consulting work that spans numerous states and notable clients, including professional athletes, Higgins has become a respected figure in the hunting community. His business ventures continue to grow, driven by a commitment to quality, innovation, and integrity in the deer hunting industry.

April Vokey is a fly fisher, outdoorswoman, membership coordinator, casting instructor, mother, world-traveler, DIY enthusiast, and master of dirty jokes. Her journey in the fly fishing world has been one of her passion, dedication, and unwavering advocacy for the sport. From a young age, she felt an unbreakable bond with nature and the rush of the river. Even as a toddler, she was engrossed in the pursuit, meticulously assembling her tackle box with an array of lures and baits.
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At 16, you could find her chasing salmon and steelhead in the rivers along the coastline of British Columbia, baitcaster and driver’s license in hand. For her, those experiences weren’t just about the catch, rather a cornerstone of self-discovery and an escape from the challenges of city life. In her late teens, she discovered fly fishing and knew that she had to somehow structure in her life so she could do it every day. Guiding for sturgeon and salmon with a local outfitter was a stepping stone, and at age 24, in 2007, she founded her own company, Fly Gal Ventures, to share her passion as a guide.
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Her passion for fly fishing and the outdoors has since taken her to far-flung corners of the world, all in pursuit of the next adventure. Over the years, She's been humbled by talented anglers and a supportive community who eventually drove her to start Anchored Outdoors, an online membership that has been her most fulfilling venture to date.

Coley Jens is a fascinating blend of adventurous spirit and dedicated environmental stewardship. Originally hailing from Detroit, Michigan, her formative years near Chicago ignited a lifelong passion for wildlife and critters, nurtured by frequent visits to museums and aquariums. A move to Florida in her youth only deepened this love affair with the natural world. After a stint in the military, including service in Afghanistan, Coley returned home to pursue her studies, initially focusing on zoology before pivoting towards microbiology and chemistry. This diverse academic background perfectly aligns with her current role as an environmental specialist, where she inspects hazardous materials such as diesel and oil to ensure environmental safety, even at facilities like jails.
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Despite the allure of a potentially more lucrative social media career, Coley remains steadfast in her dedication to environmental inspections, a role she's been immersed in since November 2016. Her military background, particularly during emergency operations like Hurricane Irma, has equipped her with invaluable skills for handling high-pressure situations. Balancing her professional commitments with her burgeoning social media presence hasn't been easy, but Coley finds solace and joy in her outdoor adventures and wildlife explorations, which she shares with her online audience under a pseudonym. 
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Despite the occasional mishap, Coley's resilience shines through. Whether it's navigating stormy seas or contemplating a career shift towards park services in the Pacific Northwest, she tackles each challenge with unwavering determination.

Alongside her sports career, Alison is a biochemist with a graduate degree. Her biggest challenge was overcoming a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a severe crash, which led her to pursue neuropsychology in grad school. Despite her injuries, she made a strong recovery and continued to excel in cycling, though she ultimately found herself not fully healthy. Alison has openly discussed the difficulties of balancing her professional cycling career with personal well-being. Despite outward success, she faced dark and challenging times internally. Her severe crash resulted in multiple injuries and a TBI, forcing her to reassess her identity beyond just being an athlete. This shift in perspective led her to focus more on her overall health and well-being, emphasizing her roles as a daughter, wife, sister, and scientist.
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Her recovery has been ongoing, involving mental health research, dealing with lingering effects like PTSD and anxiety, and the support of a positive environment and her husband. She stresses the importance of daily self-care and maintaining a balanced life. Her journey of coping with physical and chronic pain from injuries, especially a shattered pelvis. Despite the discomfort, she continued to race, finding solace in the development of more comfortable bike saddles. She highlighted the impact of chronic pain on her outlook on life.
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Currently, Alison is in a great place both professionally and personally, deeply in love with her supportive husband. She enjoys riding her bike and giving back to the cycling community by mentoring and promoting inclusivity, especially for kids and girls. She finds joy in contributing to the sport and being part of the ongoing positive movement in women's sports. Alison views her experiences with both gratitude and a sense of purpose, focusing on how she can use her platform to inspire and support others in the cycling world.