A podcast about the great… and sometimes not-so-great…. outdoors.

Rachel Banken has forged a path that allows her to “play in the woods and call it work”. Fueled by her values and passion for tea, she crafts tea blends with organic, regenerative ingredients, foraged and harvested with love and care in Minnesota.

Tea is important. It ritualizes slowing down. Well Rooted Teas, in particular, draw upon your senses- gorgeous, colorful ingredients, aromas, flavors like maple, peppermint, white pine and lemongrass served hot or cold depending on your mood. Create indulgence and bring nature into your everyday life with these restoring and healthful infusions.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and if you’re looking for that perfect gift, Well Rooted Teas might just be the answer. Encourage the moms in your life to slow down and take a moment for themselves, better yet, sit down with your mom and share a cup of tea. It’s a simple yet meaningful way to bond in a moment of tranquility amidst life's demands. Cheers to celebrating the remarkable moms in our lives.

Find Rachel and Well Rooted Teas

Follow Well Rooted Teas: @wellrootedteas

Meet Andrew Hughes, a very cool guy. Andrew is an explorer and seasoned mountaineer, renowned not only for expeditions, but for his charm. How many people propose from Mount Everest (the internet says he was only the second)?

His resume reads like a true adventurer. He’s completed the Seven Summits (highest mountains on each continent), six of the Seven Volcanic Summits (highest volcanoes on each continent) and the Antarctica Trifecta consecutively Skiing the Last Degree to the South Pole and reaching the summits of Mount Vinson (the highest mountain) and Mount Sidley (the highest volcano) in Antarctica.

Andrew doesn't stop at personal milestones, he holds multiple world records. He orchestrated the 'World’s Highest Tea Party' atop Mount Everest (again, charming). And most recently, he paddle boarded on the highest flatwater lake, located at Tres Cruces Norte in Chile.

Beyond the records and feats of strength, Andrew infuses purpose into his adventures. Each expedition serves as a platform to raise awareness about pressing issues like climate change. In fact, his latest endeavor nearly faced cancellation due to dwindling water levels—a stark reminder of the environmental challenges we face.

As we celebrate Earth Day 2024, let Andrew be your inspiration to forge a deeper connection with the natural world. He not only inspires awe but also underscores the importance of cherishing and safeguarding our planet.

@andrew_i_hughes

Photo: mf.terra

A discussion with Anastasia Allison, the Founder of Kula Cloth, might initially seem centered around the practicalities of outdoor bodily functions (ie. peeing and pooping in the woods), yet it swiftly transcends into profound contemplations on life philosophy, spirituality, and embracing joy and abundance. Prepare to be captivated as Anastasia effortlessly guides the conversation towards deep insights and invaluable guidance to enrich not only your connection with the natural world but also your inner self.

Have you ever asked or thought:

• As a woman, how do I pee and poop in the woods?

• What are some tips to feel clean and fresh to boost my personal outdoor hygiene?

• How does time in nature lead to the discovery of clarity in life and its abundance?

• How and where can you find joy? (Think, the unexpected)

Anastasia is not only the founder of an outdoor gear company, she’s the violist in the heart opening, tear inducing Musical Mountaineers, shares her wisdom in the Kula Diaries, and is the Founder of the life changing, “Dance Experiment”. In her spare time (!) she coaches, hikes, backpacks and is that bad-ass woman that passes you on the the road, waving as she rides her motorcycle into the sunset.

@anastasia.allison

@kulacloth

While winter has basically been a no show in Minnesota this year, there are places where hearty Minnesotans are currently braving the elements. We Do This For Fun holds one of those people dear to our hearts- Leah Gruhn.

For the second year in a row Leah’s racing the ITI1000 Iditarod Trail Invitational, a grueling 1000 mile race. While we didn’t get a chance to chat with her before she began, we’ve been following her little dot on Trackleaders.

From the race organizers:

“Only the most experienced, rugged and intrepid competitors dare to attempt the ITI 1000, the world's longest and toughest winter race.”

As we think about Leah we wanted to revisit a podcast recorded last year with Leah and her husband Jere. 

Visit wedothisforfun.com to follow Leah’s progress in real time as she nears the end of this demanding race.

@leahgruhn, @itialaska -1000 miles by bike during the unforgiving Alaskan winter.

Who would've thought we'd crave snow this much? These snowless, gloomy days have us yearning for a snowy wonderland.

Well, fear not! Claire Wilson, the powerhouse leading the Loppet Foundation, is here to wipe away those tears and tell you to put on your snow pants. Her team has transformed Theodore Wirth Park into a winter paradise. You heard that right—snow in Minnesota, right now!

They've meticulously covered the trails, so grab those cross-country skis and glide through the winter wonderland. Or maybe indulge in some adrenaline with your family—zooming down snowy slopes.

The Loppet isn't just about snow; they're bringing us the World Cup (the skiing one, not the soccer showdown), the enchanting Luminary Loppet (it's practically pure magic), plus a mix of artsy and nature-centric programs that'll keep your winter calendar jam-packed.

Finally, a request from We Do This For Fun. Unseasonably warm weather has thrown a curveball at the Loppet Foundation, especially in preparing for this year's World Cup. If your family is thinking about end-of-year charitable contributions, I urge you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to The Loppet Foundation. Your support will directly help them tackle the hurdles posed by the weather and ensure both a successful World Cup and a fantastic 2024 season.

Your generosity won't just impact The Loppet; it'll ripple through our community. These humans support youth development programs in Mountain Biking, Nordic sports, and Running.

To chip in or discover more about The Loppet Foundation, hop over to https://www.loppet.org and hit "Make a Donation."

Now, go summon your snow angels, and dive into winter at Theodore Wirth Park, courtesy of the Loppet Foundation.

Luminary Loppet, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2024 (Tickets are available at https://www.loppet.org/events/luminary).

COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup Minneapolis (Loppet Cup), Saturday, February 17- Monday, February 19, 2024 (Check out: https://loppetcup.com for the details)

For all things Loppet visit: https://www.loppet.org/

Facebook: @loppet

Insta: @loppetfoundation

Expert paddler Devin Brown takes over We Do This For Fun to lead a conversation with her pal and fellow river enthusiast Scott Miller. Far from your average paddling conversation, this one’s about the adventure towards setting records, world records to be exact. Scott led the team who set the 2023 Mississippi Speed Record (the record is recognized by the Guinness World Records under the title “Fastest Time to Row the Length of the Mississippi River by a Team”). Devon gets the dirt on traveling 2300 miles in less than 17 days by canoe, learns about his team of angels and how his pursuit of the record was a move “towards joy”.

Scott shares the best place to paddle (the answer might surprise you) and tips for Devin as she pursues her dream of being the first African American woman on record to paddle the Mississippi source to sea. These endeavors not only take an enormous number of hours of training and planning, but a lot of fundraising. We Do This For Fun is dedicated to helping Devin reach this goal. Won’t you help?  

Go Fund Me for Devin: https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-er-down-the-river

Follow Scott: @mississippispeedrecord

https://www.mississippispeedrecord.com/

Watch for the forthcoming documentary on the trip.

Scott organizes the incredible Two Paddle Kayak and Canoe Races (with something for experts and novices alike). Get June 7th-9th, 2024 on the calendar and follow @twopaddlesMN on Facebook for updates.

Two Paddles Races:https://twopaddles.org/

https://twopaddles.org/

https://www.facebook.com/TwoPaddlesMN/

Follow Devin: @afrodiskayak

Scott suggested, Will to Wild, a book by @shelbystanger (who seems like a person we all need to know!).

Polar explorer, Eric Larsen, believes diversity and equity are important. He hopes to break down barriers to polar travel by offering six BIPOC scholarships to his annual Polar Academy, equipping participants with the knowledge, safety gear, and necessary toolkits to survive modern polar travel. Eric, a record breaking polar adventurer (think North Pole, South Pole and summiting Everest in ONE YEAR), has selected a committee of advocates for inclusivity within the outdoor industry, polar travelers and recreationalists to help make the selection of scholarship winners and collaborate on the training.

Emily Ford - an influencer and athlete advocating for a more inclusive outdoor space

Erick Cedeno - a professional explorer well-known for traveling the globe by bike

Danica Carey - Recreation planner, social artist, and researcher with focus on public health and equity.

Rohan Freeman - the first African American to climb the Seven Summits

Everyone should have the chance to follow their cold, icy and big winter dreams- spread the word! The deadline is coming up FAST-December 1st and selections will be made by December 8th.

Eric’s Insta: @elexplore

Scholarship Application: https://www.ericlarsenexplore.com/scholarship/

For scholarship recipients, all the necessary gear, equipment, travel costs, and course fees will be provided, thanks to a generous donation from Jack Wolfskin.

Fun fact from Eric: 98% of polar explorers come from Minnesota.

Do you believe everyone deserves a living wage and clean water, air and food? Then please, listen to this podcast.

“Food is the single strongest lever to optimize human health and environmental sustainability on Earth.”  EAT- Lancet Commission.

Isais Hernandez of Queer Brown Vegan, is passionate about environmental education and has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, Huffington Post, Aspen Ideas, Pink News, to name a few. He could get all doom and gloom about about the environment and our food system, but instead, his focus is “evidence-based hope”. This is where we focus on things that are moving in a positive direction and worth amplifying. Optimism will solve the climate crisis not bad news.Tips to connect with the food system and build a relationship with the land along with a bounty of resources found on his TikTok, instagram and YouTube.

Speaking of amplifying good things… there are people out there that want to help you reduce your carbon “foodprint”. If you live in Minnesota, you’ll find many of those people at Twin Cities Veg Fest coming up on Sunday, September 17, 2023.

We’ll be there too. Find our company Borealle exhibiting, co-leading the “Let’s Beat (the drum for) Breast Cancer” Rally and speaking at the MainStage at 1:30 pm.

Documentaries mentioned: Overheated, The Smell of Money

Tool mentioned: EJ screening tool (this is fascinating!)