Creeks to Peaks: The Understory

Flag Spruce Initiative
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Personal Journals

Welcome to Creeks to Peaks: The Understory, the podcast that highlights West Virginians near and far who are doing great things in their respective fields.

  1. 06/15/2025

    S3 Ep. 2 - Brian Cheripko

    Welcome to Season 3, Episode 2 of Creeks to Peaks: The Understory podcast! On this episode, Michael interviews Brian Cheripko, a native of Brooke County, West Virginia. Brian is a member of the esteemed Seven Summits Club, having successfully climbed the highest peak on each of the 7 continents. Listen in as they discuss Brian’s motivation and tales of his adventures.

    59 min

  2. 05/04/2025

    S3 Ep. 1 - Brooke Glover

    Welcome back to Creeks to Peaks: The Understory! On this episode, we chat with Brooke Glover, the CEO & Co-Founder of Swilled Dog, an award-winning distillery and cidery located in Upper Tract, WV. We discuss the growing agritourism economy in WV, and Brooke’s leadership in driving state policy. Tune in to learn all that Swilled Dog has to offer! Swilled Dog spirits are available in WV Liquor stores and ship online to 45 states. Ciders are available in small batches in their tasting room. (This conversation was recorded in Spring 2024)

    51 min

  3. 12/30/2023

    S2 Ep. 10 - Bryan Chapman

    Join us on Season 2, Episode 10 of Creeks to Peaks: The Understory Podcast, and meet Bryan Chapman, the extraordinary US Army Special Forces Officer and Mount Everest Summiteer hailing from Craigsville, WV. From serving with elite forces to conquering the world's highest peaks, his story embodies the mountaineer spirit of resilience and adventure. Take a listen!

    1h 18m

  4. 11/01/2023

    S2 Ep. 9 - Dan Koepke

    On Season 2, Episode 9, Michael interviews Dan Koepke, a Morgantown-native Alpinist and USA Ice Climbing team member. Dan's journey into the world of ice climbing started like many others—with a love for the outdoors and a thirst for adventure. But what sets him apart is his passion and advocacy for conservation and responsible climbing. He understands the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the places he loves to explore. When he's not hanging from a frozen waterfall or scaling towering mountains, you might find Dan sharing his knowledge and experiences with the next generation of climbers. He's a mentor, coach, and a true leader in the climbing community. We learn about how Dan embodies the Mountaineer spirit! As always, take a listen! #CreekstoPeaks #CreekstoPeaksTheUnderstory #FlagSpruce #FlagSpruceInitiative #Alpinist #IceClimbing #USAIceClimbing #MorgantownWV #Mountaineering #Mountaineers #westvirginia #westvirginiapodcasts #nowstreaming #listennow

    59 min

  5. 09/28/2023

    S2 Ep. 8 - Lindsey Fout

    On this episode, we interview Lindsey Fout, the creative force and West Virginia native behind Last Chance Textiles! Lindsey's passion for ethical design led her to craft soft, sustainable, and natural fabric bandanas and scarves. We explore her dedication to style, sustainability, and conscious consumerism, all of which has led to her success in the textiles industry. As always, take a listen!

    53 min

  6. 06/10/2023

    S2 Ep. 7 - Max Gottlieb & Bo Mahr, Founders of Ridge

    Ridge On this episode, we sit down with Bo Mahr and Max Gottlieb, the founders of Ridge, a socially conscious digital banking startup based in Appalachia. We discuss their roots growing up in rural America, and how those experiences drive their desire to positively impact similar communities across the country. We also discuss the fintech industry as a whole, and how carbon offsets aren’t as effective as many companies would like you to believe. So as always, take a listen!

    57 min

  7. 03/03/2023

    S2 Ep. 6 - Bryn Perrot aka “Deerjerk”

    On this episode, we interviewed artist Bryn Perrot (aka Deerjerk) of Morgantown, WV. Bryn’s iconic woodcuts and prints can be found all around the globe. Her work has been commissioned for use on album covers and stage sets, not to mention many of Jackie O’s beer can labels. We hope you enjoy learning about how she discovered this niche art form and grew her passion into a sustainable business. As always, take a listen!

    1h 8m

  8. 01/07/2023

    S2 Ep. 5 - Chip Chase

    On Season 2 Episode 5, we interviewed Chip Chase, the heartbeat of Whitegrass Ski Touring Center and Cafe in Canaan Valley, WV. Since opening in 1981, Whitegrass has become renowned as the Mecca of cross-country skiing in the mid Atlantic. That’s in no small part to Chip’s passion for creating a fun and welcoming environment and getting people excited to spend time outdoors. We hope you enjoy listening to Chip tell us about the over 40 year evolution of cross country skiing in WV, as well as what he sees as the future for outdoor recreation in the state. So, as always, take a listen!

    59 min
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5
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About

Welcome to Creeks to Peaks: The Understory, the podcast that highlights West Virginians near and far who are doing great things in their respective fields.

Information

  • Creator
    Flag Spruce Initiative
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Flag Spruce Initiative