Fitz Cahall: States of Adventures & Finding Yourself By Getting Lost

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Fitz Cahall—founder of The Dirtbag Diaries and co-founder of Duct Tape Then Beer—joins me to trace a life built around curiosity, craft, and the wild. We get into the nomadic childhood that pushed him outdoors, the dog-mauling that forged resilience, discovering climbing in Seattle, and the early podcasting leap that turned unsold magazine stories into a movement. We talk States of Adventure (DK), how to choose stories that reflect a lifetime outdoors, making inclusive adventure culture, and the 50-day Sierra traverse with Becca that reset his compass. We also explore creative stamina, running a mission-driven studio, and building family identity through shared time outside—plus Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold, and where audio can still surprise us.

What you’ll learn

• How childhood instability became a foundation for autonomy, authenticity, and adventure
• The moment podcasting “clicked” and scaled from 30 friends to thousands overnight
• Anatomy of States of Adventure: selecting 30 stories that mirror a life lived outside
• Why inclusive, everyday adventures expand the ecosystem (burro racing, rollerblading Iowa, etc.)
• Sustaining creative passion for 18 years without burning out
• Designing a family life that keeps mountains and forests in the calendar

Memorable threads

• The power of medium choice: audio stories at the length they need
• Craft over clout: playful branding as a filter for the right partners
• Lessons from a stormy, illness-riddled, unforgettable Sierra crossing
• Curiosity as a daily practice—for interviews, parenting, and purposeful work

Resources & links mentioned

• The Dirtbag Diaries — https://www.dirtbagdiaries.com
• Duct Tape Then Beer — https://www.ducttapethenbeer.com
• States of Adventure (DK) — https://www.dk.com
• National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com
• This American Life — https://www.thisamericanlife.org
• Climbing Gold (with Alex Honnold) — https://www.climbinggold.com
• Alex Honnold — https://www.alexhonnold.com
• Grand Canyon (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/grca
• Yosemite (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/yose
• RAGBRAI (Iowa cross-state ride) — https://www.ragbrai.com
• Pack Burro Racing — https://www.packburroracing.org
  Episode takeaway

Adventure—as practice and culture—builds resilient creativity, community, and meaning when we protect curiosity and time outside.

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