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

Listen to this episode from Adventure Diaries on Spotify. 🎙️ Please make sure to click the 'Follow' the show - It really helps the show, Thanks!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 learnHow childhood instability became a foundation for autonomy, authenticity, and adventureThe moment podcasting “clicked” and scaled from 30 friends to thousands overnightAnatomy of States of Adventure: selecting 30 stories that mirror a life lived outsideWhy inclusive, everyday adventures expand the ecosystem (burro racing, rollerblading Iowa, etc.)Sustaining creative passion for 18 years without burning outDesigning a family life that keeps mountains and forests in the calendarMemorable threadsThe power of medium choice: audio stories at the length they needCraft over clout: playful branding as a filter for the right partnersLessons from a stormy, illness-riddled, unforgettable Sierra crossingCuriosity as a daily practice—for interviews, parenting, and purposeful workResources & links mentionedThe Dirtbag Diaries — https://www.dirtbagdiaries.comDuct Tape Then Beer — https://www.ducttapethenbeer.comStates of Adventure (DK) — https://www.dk.comNational Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.comThis American Life — https://www.thisamericanlife.orgClimbing Gold (with Alex Honnold) — https://www.climbinggold.comAlex Honnold — https://www.alexhonnold.comGrand Canyon (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/grcaYosemite (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/yoseRAGBRAI (Iowa cross-state ride) — https://www.ragbrai.comPack Burro Racing — https://www.packburroracing.orgEpisode takeawayAdventure—as practice and culture—builds resilient creativity, community, and meaning when we protect curiosity and time outside.Send us a textSupport the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates. Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected]. AdventureDiaries.com#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld