In this episode, our guest is Dr. Len Necefer, Ph.D., CEO & Founder of NativesOutdoors – a native-owned athletic and creative collective. The company began as a social media project in March 2017 by Len Necefer (Diné), highlighting stories and photos of Native people in outdoor recreation and addressing the lack of representation of Indigenous people in the outdoor industry. The organization has expanded to providing advisory and consulting services to the outdoor industry on topics within the intersection of tribes, public lands, and outdoor recreation. NativesOutdoors is working directly with tribal governments, community organizations, and individuals on increasing access to outdoor recreation and connecting resources and opportunities within the outdoor industry.

Dr. Necefer holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Doctorate in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Previous to founding NativesOutdoors, Len has worked for the U.S. Department of Energy and, most recently, the University of Arizona.

The Channel Mastery podcast is brought to you by Verde Brand Communications, a consumer-centric brand strategy and communication agency serving the outdoor recreation industry. Your host is Kristin Carpenter, Chief Strategy Officer, Founder, and Chair at Verde Brand Communications. Channel Mastery is sponsored by our partner Life Time, Inc., owner of the Sea Otter Classic and producer of the Sea Otter Classic Summit outdoor recreation executive gathering.

Discussion points:

• Len’s impactful career and path to entrepreneurship with NativesOutdoors
• News roundup - Len presenting at the Sea Otter Classic
• Biden’s policy changes in 2021 to empower first nations
• Co-management and conflict at ancestral sites
• Native interest in living and working in their community
• Opportunities for teaming up in outdoor rec
• Impactful wins empowering native communities
• Getting involved - investing in the pipeline from Native communities for talent

News Articles Mentioned:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/the-extreme-cyclists-of-the-navajo-nation
https://www.kauffman.org/currents/opportunity-awaits-native-americans-and-entrepreneurship/
https://santoantoniodopinhal.lumiar.co/5-sets-of-challenges-native-american-entrepreneurs/

Resources:

Dr. Len Necefer Website
Dr. Necefer LinkedIn

Today’s guest is Adam Ruggiero, Editor-in-Chief of GearJunkie. GearJunkie leads the outdoor industry in breaking news and product reviews in the active-lifestyle world. From offices in Denver and Minneapolis, GearJunkie’s journalists, writers, and video producers advance the conversation online and beyond. Millions of monthly readers follow GearJunkie online through multiple channels.

Adam has been with the publication since 2015 when he started out as a news reporter. He spearheaded the creation of the GearJunkie podcast in 2018, holds a degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota, and was named Outdoor Media Summit’s "Editor of the Year” for 2022.

In this episode, you’ll hear Adam discuss his journey with GearJunkie and its current success, the changing landscape of media as a business, utilizing AI and chatbots in journalism and content creation as a helpful tool, and shaping future generations of media.

The Channel Mastery podcast is brought to you by Verde Brand Communications, a consumer-centric brand strategy and communication agency serving the outdoor recreation industry. Your host is Kristin Carpenter, Chief Strategy Officer, Founder and Chair at Verde Brand Communications. Channel Mastery is sponsored by our partner Life Time, Inc., owner of the Sea Otter Classic and producer of the Sea Otter Classic Summit outdoor recreation executive gathering.

Discussion points:

• GearJunkie and its increasing scope and momentum
• Outdoor media and where it’s headed
• Relationships, trust, and ethics in the media landscape
• YouTube and trucks
• The GearJunkie chatbot article, and the impact of AI
• Freelance writing, Grammarly, bots, and wabi-sabi
• Hopes for the future of journalism

Resources:

GearJunkie Website

GearJunkie Podcast

GearJunkie’s Chatbot Article

Adam Ruggiero LinkedIn

Sea Otter Classic Summit, April 2023

Kristin Carpenter on LinkedIn

Verde Brand Communications

Today’s guest is Jeremiah Bishop, a professional mountain bike racer in cross country, short track, ultra-endurance stage races, and gravel. Jeremiah is an athlete ambassador for Canyon Bicycles, a freelance cycling consultant, and a content creator (co-founder of the hit documentary series The Impossible Routes).

In this episode, you’ll hear stories about the beginning of The Impossible Routes in Hawaii, building up the stories and videos during the pandemic, meeting and partnering/co-starring with Tyler Pearce (aka The Vegan Cyclist), and how the relatable, vulnerable cycling stories resonate with so many people.

The Channel Mastery podcast is brought to you by Verde Brand Communications, a consumer-centric brand strategy, and communication agency serving the outdoor recreation industry. Your host is Kristin Carpenter, Chief Strategy Officer, Founder, and Chair at Verde Brand Communications. Channel Mastery is sponsored by our partner Life Time, Inc., owner of the Sea Otter Classic and producer of the Sea Otter Classic Summit outdoor recreation executive gathering.

Discussion points:

• Jeremiah’s backstory in biking and history with Canyon
• The first “impossible route” in Hawaii
• Building through the pandemic
• Seven days riding across the Mojave
• The low-fi appeal of Jeremiah’s unscripted video stories
• Canyon Bicycles - the partnership
• 2023’s Sea Otter Classic- stay tuned for a future episode on this
• Platforms, channels and the cycling industry – all in flux
• Tyler and Jeremiah’s chemistry and relationship
• The Europe trip - cycling is part of their identity
• Film premieres, swag, and fan activities
• What looks like it may be a disaster, ends up being amazing

Resources:

Jeremiah’s website

The Impossible Route Website

Jeremiah on Instagram

Offroad to Athens Documentary

The Vegan Cyclist on YouTube

Strava.com

Canyon.com

Sea Otter Classic Summit, April 2023

Kristin Carpenter on LinkedIn