PODCAST · sports
The Dirtbag Diaries
by Duct Tape Then Beer
This is what adventure sounds like. Climb. Ski. Hike. Bike. Paddle. Run. Travel. Whatever your passion, we are all dirtbags. Fitz Cahall and the Duct Tape Then Beer team present stories about the dreamers, athletes and wanderers. Want the Diaries ad free? Subscribe today at https://dub.sh/DiariesPlus.
Episodes
-
Endangered Spaces: Ambler Road, AK
In October of 2025, the Trump administration green lit the Ambler Road in Alaska, a proposed mining access road that would cut through 211 miles of pristine Alaskan wilderness in the Brooks Range, crossing over 3,000 waterways and could forever change access to subsistence resources in Northwest...
-
All Hands On Deck
When Somira Sao and James Burwick were expecting their first child, they made a vow not to stop traveling-- and they took that promise to the extreme. In 2009, after two years of living in a van traveling around South America, they took their growing family and moved onto a 40' monohull sailboat....
-
The Shorts: Grizzlies and Rubber Bands
We never know where our life’s important lessons will come from. After years of chasing first ascents in the PNW Cascade mountain, Cam Fenton stumbles upon a new focus for his mountain exploits: grizzly bears. For Emma Brophy, collecting red rubber bands while on a 600 mile river trip down the...
-
Shutter Speed
Drew Smith is one of the most highly respected outdoor adventure photographers in the game. His work has brought him to more than two dozen countries, and his skills in the mountains make him a top choice for professional athletes looking for a photographer who can keep up. In this episode, he...
-
Mark Kenyon: Save Public Lands
Mark Kenyon and Fitz Cahall may not appear to have much in common. Mark got his start in the outdoors at a family hunting cabin in the forest lands of Northern Michigan, and Fitz dirtbagged around the American West in the back of his Tacoma. Their passions in the outdoors might be different, but...
-
And Then What: Roadless Rule
The Forest Service has proposed to rescind the Roadless Rule, which protects nearly 45 million acres of National Forest. These forests play a role in maintaining clean water and air, wildlife habitat and provide lots of recreational access for climbing, hiking, biking and paddling. Today, Tracy...
-
Winnebago Warriors
“When we were living in a house, we were always compromising because we had the weight of a mortgage, of doing what we thought we should be doing,” remembers Kathy Holcombe. Until the day, she, her husband, Peter, and their daughter Abby moved into a Winnebago to travel and work from the road. “I...
-
Why Do Trails Exist?
Trails are hewn from granite, carved into sandstone cliffs and engineered into our most iconic landscapes. Other times, they offer just the faintest hint of the passing of those before us. Either way, we often take their existence for granted. Today with the help of author Dillon Osleger we ask…
more -
The Shorts– Traces of You
How do we love those we have lost? In two essays, Mike Foote and Natasha Buffo explore how the memory of their parents guide them through life’s biggest moments—from a grueling hundred-mile run to the choice to become a mother. Support comes from Oboz : Comment on the Roadless Rule by Sept...
-
Rowing The Distance
Libby Costello and Sophia Walters met as teammates on the UCLA rowing team, but after graduation, they each struggled to reimagine what the sport would mean to them without the structure of Division 1 athletics. Years later, the two friends came back together with an audacious goal: to row...
-
Meet Your Heroes: Kimi Werner
Born and raised in Hawaii, World Champion spear fisher and renowned chef Kimi Werner has travelled around the world to catch and cook fish big and small, educating others how to lead a life of sustainable consumption. Those are just a few reasons producer Marco Siler-Gonzales spent three years...
-
Orogenesis
In late summer of 2025, Kurt Refsnider straddled the Canadian border in Washington, pointing his bike south towards the border of Mexico. He was about to bring concept to reality: the first rider to attempt the Orogenesis trail, a decades long pursuit to bring a mammoth single track through-ride...
-
The Shorts: Father Time
Tyler and Paul, two fathers at different ends of the parenting spectrum, contend with what it means to live an adventurous life as a parent. As they embark on challenges of their own, they both come away with new perspectives on how to define success in the outdoors. Support comes from Kuat Racks...
-
Endangered Spaces: Big Bend, TX
When local river guide-turned small-town investigative reporter Sam Karas discovers that the Trump administration has been quietly waiving environmental regulations to expedite the building of a new border wall, she knows that they'll be coming for the Big Bend soon. This remote corner of West...
-
Derick Lugo: Mr. Fabulous
Derick Lugo’s first hike was the Appalachian Trail. By the time he finished six months later, he was transformed. As Mr. Fabulous, Derick has inspired audiences all over the country to get outdoors and put one foot in front of the other. Get a signed copy of A Fabulous Thru-Hike or The Unlikely...
-
Minneapolis Unbound
In this live recording from STRIB Unbound, host Fitz Cahall sits down with Josh Klauck and Jarrod Alder of Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop and Nasrieen Habib of Hiking Hijabie to talk about building community and getting outside in the great city of Minneapolis. Thanks to Unbound for inviting us....
-
Lowest To Highest
Ultra runner Sara Aranda inherited a genetic mutation that took her mother away at a young age. In the years following, Sara has woven together storytelling and adventurism to pay tribute to her mother's memory and empower herself to keep fighting. In 2024, Sara made an audacious FKT attempt on a...
-
The Shorts– Near Miss
In the outdoors, things don’t always go as planned. Seth Cohen and Skye Hart each set out to test themselves, one in the hills of Wyoming and one in the skies above Colombia, and both end up stuck, relying on the goodwill of strangers. Support comes from Kuat Racks Oboz Darn Tough Free shipping…
more -
Portable: A Mystery in Three Parts
It wasn't just any piece of rock. Portable may be the world's most famous boulder. Parlor trick, mascot, right of passage -- call it what you want, but this toaster-size piece of granite nestled in the lush forest of Squamish is a beloved fixture of the Canadian climbing scene. Then it went...
-
Acceptable Conduct
Years of dedication to conservation biology and an enduring love for animals led SJ Joslin to their dream job running the Big Wall Bats program in Yosemite National Park. But after hanging a flag on the side of El Capitan, they were fired, upending their life and sending them on a journey to…
more -
The Shorts– Joy is Resistance
When immigration enforcement raids came to Los Angeles, Vanessa Herrera was packing her two kids into the car to head out on a rafting trip on the Klamath River. On their trip, Vanessa ponders the duality of being a Latina river rat and wonders how she can ensure her boys feel at home in their...
-
Nate George: Ground Up
From a very young age, Nate George learned that if he wanted anything in this world, it was easier to just build it from scratch. In 2016, Nate opened a climbing gym in an old potato shed, financing it with revenue from his computer export business. Nate's return on investment was fostering a...
-
The Myth of Tehipite
On a flyfishing adventure to explore the High Sierra’s most remote valley, Rebecca Ramirez is the first to admit that, fifteen years ago, she’d have easily been voted “least likely to be here.” When she decides to cut the hooks off her flies and explore a new way to connect with trout, her...
-
Kathy Karlo: No Man's Land
What does it take to create something that lasts? Kathy Karlo is the executive director of No Man’s Land Film Festival, the first film festival by and for women and genderqueer adventurers. Kathy talks to Diaries producer Lauren DeLaunay Miller about staying scrappy, finding hope through…
more -
The Shorts– Winter Dreaming
Biting cold, freshly fallen snow, frozen lakes– what could be better? Brooke Maushund and Carrick Gambell take us through the joys of winter from the mountains of Patagonia to the forests of New England. Support comes from Darn Tough Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Kuat Racks Oboz...
-
Good Good Bad: Taipei 101
Saying yes to out of the box ideas can lead to incredible places. Alex Honnold’s live solo of the Taipei 101 tower seemed to spring out of nowhere, but it was the culmination of more than a decade of effort to make the moment happen. Today, we sit down for a debrief. Support comes from Oboz Darn...
-
Justin Krompier: Just Passin' Through
Gazing out at the magnificent coastline of Big Sur, Justin Krompier realized his day job wasn't going to cut it. Following a decades long battle with drug addiction, Justin decided to take a leap of faith, leaving the stability of a 9-5 for a life of adventure on the road with his camera. Support...
-
Good Good Bad: Golden Gravel Trail
In August of 2025, professional adventure cyclist Sarah Swallow spent over a month bikepacking from the Pacific Ocean to the Eastern slopes of the Rockies. Her goal? To scout a new formal bikepacking route developed by the Adventure Cycling Association which stretches from the Mississippi River…
more -
Running 50 Classics
Andy Cochrane hails from a Park Service cabin in Minnesota and has lived the life many dirtbags dream of. He spent years on the road, funding his travel through skillful storytelling and photography. While out on a long trail run, he realized something was missing, and decided to create it. As he...
-
Field Trip
As a high school teacher in Santa Maria, CA, Taylor Mihelic understands the power of a field trip. Whether it’s plant identification hikes through the forests, or habitat restoration projects on the coast, Taylor gets the best out of her students when there’s adventure in the air. During her…
more -
The Governor vs Climate Change
Time spent outside as kids can extend into our adult lives in incredible ways. Jay Inslee’s passion for being outside shaped his path from his three terms as governor of Washington all the way to the national level. His pioneering policy work is having an impact in Washington state and proving…
more -
The Shorts– Almost Wild
Loss can create an emotional cocktail when something or someone is unceremoniously ripped from our life. Amie Renaud and Joanna Henry invite us along through their circuitous roads through grief. After the sudden end of a relationship, Amie embarks on a grand bikepacking trip. Right as she’s...
-
Good Good Bad: Swimming Lake Powell
Shane Schieffer just swam the entire length of Lake Powell self-supported in 11 days. He also just turned 50 years old and had no previous experience in long distance swimming. Shane talks about following through on personal challenges, no matter how far-fetched they seem at the moment. Check out...
-
The Shorts – A Frames & Vans
What do we want and what do we need? Sara Holzknecht started skiing every month of the year as a way to shake off the unexpected upheavals of life and the pandemic. Then her kids wanted in. Gabby Markel was living a dirtbag dream, but something was missing. She confronts the less glamorous…
more -
A Snowball's Chance Part 2
Mount Bachelor, one of America’s largest and beloved ski resorts, was put up for sale in August of 2024 after two decades of contentious corporate ownership. Sensing a sliver of opportunity, a high school teacher, a housing appraiser and local home builder launched a community campaign to put…
more -
A Snowball's Chance Part 1
Mount Bachelor, one of America’s largest and beloved ski resorts, was put up for sale in August of 2024 after two decades of contentious corporate ownership. Sensing a sliver of opportunity, a high school teacher, a housing appraiser and local home builder launched a community campaign to put…
more -
Tales of Terror Vol. 16
We seek solitude. We find that place a little further out to camp, a couple of extra miles down trail. Sometimes curiosity pulls us farther off the beaten path. Maybe the late afternoon feels just a little more perfect in an isolated basin. But what happens when the darkness closes in, leaving us...
-
Good Good Bad: Kílian Jornet
Some people look at ranges and imagine lines. Kílian Jornet looks at continents. Last week, Kílian completed a truly incredible adventure that was hiding in plain sight. Over the course of 31 days, the renowned mountain athlete climbed 72 fourteeners in the lower, 48 connecting them all by bike....
-
The Shorts – Family Ties
The bonds we forge during mountain adventures and shared experiences, especially with family, can profoundly shape us. Explorer and author Mark Jenkins reflects on learning to rock climb in Vedauwoo from his swim Coach, and how those lessons permeated his life and eventually into teaching his own...
-
Magic River
The Mississippi River. The Big Muddy. The Great River. When musician JW Francis left the river’s source in northern Minnesota and started heading for the sea, he’d had about two hours in canoeing to his name and little idea of what to expect. What he learned and the people he met left a mark on…
more -
Good Good Bad: White Mountain Direttissima
Five days, 231.82 miles, 85,967 vertical feet, nearly 94 hours of moving time - this is the White Mountain Direttissima as experienced by ultra-athlete Andrew Drummond. A rugged DIY run that connects all 48 of the White Mountains’ 4,000ft peaks in New Hampshire, the Direttissima has developed a...
-
The Shorts-- The Clearing
When big transitional moments occur in our lives, the way we navigate them and what helps shift our perspective can often come from unexpected places. After graduation and a summer of feeling melancholy, Carol Doyle challenged herself to a 50 mile bike ride hoping it would remove the figurative...
-
Seeing You Through
Growing up as identical twins in England, Poppy and Thea Wardley were practically attached at the hip. Their lives finally diverged when Poppy enrolled in medical school and Thea attended university a few hours away. After a few years of burnout from the unrelenting pace of school, Poppy pitches...
-
Endangered Spaces: The Ranger
For Sam Webster, public lands have been interwoven with life from the earliest age. He followed a path into public service with the Park and Forest Service, choosing stability and the ability to contribute to the great good. Until Feb 14th changed that course forever. What happens when the...
-
Three Wheelin'
Every July, nearly 20,000 cyclists from around the world swarm the roads of Iowa for one week to ride across the state. It’s hot. It’s humid. And it’s not as flat as one may think. Iowa resident Caleb Smith shares his RAGBRAI journey, complete with a buffet of midwestern charm: homemade pies…
more -
How To Do What You Love
Runner, writer, illustrator and all around human Brendan Leonard made a career of doing what he loves. Yes it’s passion and wild creativity, but it’s also the unheralded traits of persistence, thoughtful compromise and perspective that keeps him doing what he loves. Support comes from Kuat Racks...
-
The Shorts -- Meet Marge and Mansfield
Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Sometimes this comes by choice, like committing to guiding rafts on a new river and trading out your nimble kayak for the biggest barge in the fleet as Jessie Longe did. Sometimes you step out not even knowing it, like Lili Mitchell did when she showed up...
-
Green Pit Of Death
To escape record breaking crowds in Zion National Park, Marco Siler-Gonzales decides to take his girlfriend, Lena Ohlson, on an unmarked and seldom hiked trail. Heading back towards the car, Marco leads Lena around a wrong turn, leaving them in a dangerous situation. Years later he struggles to...
-
Good Good Bad: Emily Ford and the Iditarod
In March of 2025, Emily Ford lined up at the starting line of one of the world’s most difficult races – The Iditarod. To race this iconic event hadn’t been a lifelong dream but rather the next step on Emily’s pursuit of her passions – cold quiet places and four legged friends. Support comes from...
-
The Shorts-- On The Other Side
Finding out what we’re capable of takes trial and error and a whole lot of trust. For Meg Morris and Emmye Vernet, they each had a guide who helped them see another side of the outdoors. For Meg, her dad fostered her love of fishing, from Maine to Alaska to Tijuana, and helped her navigate…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
This is what adventure sounds like. Climb. Ski. Hike. Bike. Paddle. Run. Travel. Whatever your passion, we are all dirtbags. Fitz Cahall and the Duct Tape Then Beer team present stories about the dreamers, athletes and wanderers.
Want the Diaries ad free? Subscribe today at https://dub.sh/DiariesPlus.
HOSTED BY
Duct Tape Then Beer
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Dirtbag Diaries have?
The Dirtbag Diaries currently has 475 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Dirtbag Diaries about?
This is what adventure sounds like. Climb. Ski. Hike. Bike. Paddle. Run. Travel. Whatever your passion, we are all dirtbags. Fitz Cahall and the Duct Tape Then Beer team present stories about the dreamers, athletes and wanderers. Want the Diaries ad free? Subscribe today at...
How often does The Dirtbag Diaries release new episodes?
The Dirtbag Diaries publishes regularly with 475 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Dirtbag Diaries?
You can listen to The Dirtbag Diaries on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Dirtbag Diaries?
The Dirtbag Diaries is created and hosted by Duct Tape Then Beer.
URL copied to clipboard!