Conversations that explored the people, ideas, and businesses shaping a more sustainable outdoor industry.

Before The Mountain Outpost became a broader platform for community, mindfulness, and environmental storytelling, it started as a podcast.

Launched in 2016, the show set out to answer a simple question:

What if the people quietly changing the outdoor industry had a bigger platform?

The podcast featured founders, innovators, environmental advocates, and outdoor entrepreneurs who were rethinking how we experience, and care for the places we love. While many of the original episodes have been lost over time, the conversations that remain capture the spirit of what The Mountain Outpost was always about: using stories to inspire better stewardship of our mountains, forests, rivers, and communities.

The Podcast at a Glance

Years Active
2016–2017

Host
Megan Davin

Focus
Environmental sustainability, outdoor entrepreneurship, gear innovation, and community.

Mission
To amplify the people building a more thoughtful outdoor industry and encourage listeners to become better stewards of the places they recreate

The Four Remaining Episodes

Although dozens of interviews were originally produced, only four episodes remain publicly available. Together, they serve as a snapshot of where the outdoor industry was heading nearly a decade ago.

Episode 1

Flowfold: Taking a Different Look at the Marketplace

Published: September 6, 2016

Listen:https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-mountain-outpost/id1132807247

The series opens with Flowfold, a Maine company proving that performance gear could be manufactured responsibly in the United States. The conversation explores domestic manufacturing, innovative materials, product durability, and why building products closer to home can strengthen both local communities and environmental responsibility.

Themes

• American manufacturing

• Sustainable product design

• Outdoor entrepreneurship

• Building products that last

Episode 2

The Renewal Workshop

Published: September 14, 2016

Listen:https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-renewal-workshop/id1132807247?i=1000375284291

Years before "circular economy" became common language, this episode explored what happens when apparel doesn't have to become waste.

The Renewal Workshop was pioneering apparel renewal by repairing, cleaning, and recertifying damaged or returned outdoor clothing from brands including prAna, Ibex, Toad & Co., Mountain Khakis, and Indigenous. The conversation examines how extending the life of clothing can reduce landfill waste while changing the way consumers think about ownership.

Themes

• Circular economy

• Apparel repair

• Textile waste

• Sustainable business models

Looking Back

This episode foreshadowed ideas that would later influence projects like Adventurous Threads, where extending the life of outdoor gear became central to the business model.

Episode 3

Jessica Williams: On Pets and the Outdoors

Published: September 28, 2016

Listen:https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-mountain-outpost/id1132807247

An exploration of the outdoor experience through a different lens.

Jessica Williams discusses building a community around active lifestyles with dogs, creating authentic online communities, and helping people include their pets in outdoor recreation.

Rather than focusing on extreme adventure, the episode highlights how everyday experiences outside create lasting connections with nature.

Themes

• Outdoor community

• Storytelling

• Active lifestyles

• Inclusive recreation

Episode 4

Kind Apparel

Published: January 26, 2017

Listen:https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-mountain-outpost/id1132807247

Kind Apparel, a Montana-based company creating one-of-a-kind outdoor apparel from upcycled fabrics.

The conversation centers on thoughtful manufacturing, creative reuse, and building a business where sustainability isn't a marketing strategy—it's the foundation.

Themes

• Upcycling

• Slow fashion

• Handmade manufacturing

• Sustainable entrepreneurship

Looking Back

Listening to these conversations today, one thing stands out:

The questions were ahead of their time.

Repair instead of replace.

Secondhand instead of new.

Community over consumption.

Designing products to last.

Supporting local manufacturing.

Reducing waste through innovation.

These weren't just podcast topics—they became recurring themes throughout the evolution of Skirting the Mountains, eventually influencing projects like The Mountain Outpost community platform and Adventurous Threads.

While much of the original archive has been lost, these four conversations remain as a record of where the journey began: a microphone, a handful of founders asking difficult questions, and the belief that good stories can change how we experience—and protect—the outdoors.