Brendan Leonard: writer, runner, father, ex-dirtbag

Brendan Leonard is a 45-year-old writer, illustrator, ultramarathon runner, new father, and former dirtbag who makes a living by sharing his love for the outdoors. (semi-rad.com / @semi_rad)

After spending many years focused on running, climbing, skiing, cycling, hiking, and traveling, Brendan Leonard has settled down in Montana with his wife and young son. He explains the original meaning of the word "dirtbag," what his own dirtbag phase looked like, and how he cobbled together a multifaceted creative career in which he essentially gets paid to "go out, do interesting things, come back, and write about them."

We discuss the nuances of making money from your hobbies, why Brendan tells stories of everyday adventure rather than epic expeditions, and his favorite way to measure his impact. He explains how having a child changed his life in deeply meaningful and entirely predictable ways, where exactly his money comes from, and how he and his wife (also a freelancer) managed to buy a house in a cute university town in Montana without family assistance.

Brendan concludes by defining the core ethos of dirtbagging: enjoying the freedom to wake up each day and decide what you're going to do with your day—and by extension, your life.

I highly recommend Brendan's most recent book, "Ultrasomething," and his "Friday Inspiration" newsletter.

Full transcript: dirtbagrich.com/brendan