During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for outdoor gear skyrocketed, leading brands to ramp up production. But as the dust settled, it became clear that the industry had overestimated long-term consumer demand.

Now, we’re left with an oversaturated market, constant sales cycles, and a looming question:

What do we do with all this extra gear?

To help unpack this issue, I’m joined by Megan Davin, the founder of Adventurous Threads.

We’ll explore what led to this oversupply, how it’s affecting retailers and consumers, and what steps companies and individuals can take to shift the industry toward a more sustainable future.

Megan Davin is a passionate outdoor enthusiast with over 18 years in the outdoor industry. Based in Vermont, Megan has dedicated her career to blending the worlds of customer service, sales, and marketing to help brands tell meaningful stories that drive connection and sales.

Megan is the Founder and Owner of Adventurous Threads, a Vermont-based mobile and online outdoor consignment business that provides affordable, high-quality gear to outdoor lovers. By keeping quality equipment in circulation, Adventurous Threads aims to make outdoor adventures accessible while reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.

Together, Megan and Adventurous Threads are dedicated to inspiring responsible, sustainable outdoor practices and connecting people to the outdoors in a way that fosters appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of nature.

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Adventurous Threads

Website: https://adventurousthreads.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventurous_threads

In this bonus episode, I break down the controversy surrounding REI’s support for Doug Burgum as the new Secretary of the Interior under the Trump administration.

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s endorsement of Burgum has sparked backlash, with calls for a boycott of REI.

But what’s really happening?

We explore Burgum’s background as a pro-fossil fuel businessman, his legal battles against the Department of the Interior, and his priorities for public lands.

We also analyze REI’s role in the conversation, the industry’s response, and what this means for conservation efforts moving forward.

Finally, we discuss REI’s official statement on the issue and share actionable ways to support public lands.

Episode Resources:

Read the ORR letter: https://recreationroundtable.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ORR-Burgum-Nomination-Letter-of-Support-Final.pdf

REI's Recent Statement: https://www.rei.com/newsroom/article/we-will-never-stop-defending-our-public-lands

Voice Your Opposition to Burgum's Actions through the REI Cooperative Action Network: https://www.rei.com/action/network/campaign/protect-public-lands

Burgum's First Day Orders: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-doug-burgum-signs-first-round-secretarys-orders-unleash-american-energy

Related Episodes

• Episode 163. Fighting for Outdoor Policy and Protection in 2025 with Adam Cramer
• Episode 164. Is an Outdoor Recreation Economy How We Stop Off-Shore Drilling? with Chad Nelsen

Sources

ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/doug-burgum-north-dakota-interior-department-trump

Alaska Wild: https://alaskawild.org/blog/doug-burgum-the-billionaire-governor-turned-trumps-doi-secretary/

Inside Climate News: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/05022025/new-interior-secretary-weakens-public-land-protections-fossil-fuels/

When it comes to skincare, we all want products that are safe, effective, and good for the planet.

But the reality is that many skincare brands, even those marketed as "natural" or "eco-friendly," hide some dirty secrets. From greenwashing tactics to hidden microplastics and PFAS, the industry is full of misleading claims that can make it hard for consumers to know what they’re really putting on their skin.

In episode 168, I sit down withMercedes Pepper from Nation Botanics to uncover the truth behind skincare marketing and explore how different ingredients shape effective skincare formulations. We’ll talk about how to spot greenwashing, why microplastics and PFAS are a growing concern, and what choosing sustainable, plant-based ingredients really means.

Mercedes helps people who get outdoors - particularly surfers, skiers, and snowboarders - get healthy skin without the fuss. She is an international development and social impact director turned skincare founder and formulator of Nation Botanics. The brand’s flagship product, Surf+Slope, provides easy, high-performance skincare designed to combat the elements while supporting North American small businesses, farmers, and our environment.

I haven’t had much of a skincare routine until the last two years. During that time, first of all, I struggled to find anything I could use because I am allergic to aloe, but I also wanted to avoid products that not only harmed the planet but likely contained toxins. When I learned about Nation Botanics, I was excited to try their products because of the brand's mission and clean ingredients.

That said, I’ve been using their Surf+Slope moisturizer for the last few weeks, and I've appreciated it, especially after a day of cross-country skiing with my dogs when my face is dry and my cheeks might be a little wind-burned.

If you listen to this episode and want to check out Nation Bonanic’s Surf+Slope, go to nationbotanics.com and use the code minimalist to get 15% off.

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Nation Botanics

Website:https://nationbotanics.com/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/nation-botanics/about/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nationbotanics/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/nationbotanics

Sustainability is a buzzword in the outdoor and apparel industries, but how do we know if a brand’s claims are actually legitimate? With greenwashing becoming more common, it's harder than ever to separate real impact from clever marketing.

In this episode, I sit down with the co-founders of Ombraz Sunglasses to explore what it takes for a company to back up their sustainability claims with real data. We’ll learn Ombraz’s origin story, their approach to designing with sustainability in mind, and the process of securing third-party verification. From partnering with organizations like Greenticket to tackling supply chain transparency, this conversation sheds light on how brands can maintain accountability and communicate their efforts honestly.

Jensen Brehm - Ombraz Cofounder - Hails from Bellevue, WA. Big creator and problem solver. Graduated in 2014 with a BA in Environmental Business that focused on ecological design, entrepreneurship, and vegetated roof systems. Designing products, brand direction, writing, ideating, and executing creative media are a few things Jensen does nicely.

Nikolai Paloni - Ombraz Cofounder - Hails from Moscow, Russia. Impressively efficient and quick to tackle the most critical task. Graduated in 2014 with a BA in German and International Business. Nikolai is currently focused on building out Ombraz’s wholesale program & in-person experience. Implementing scalable processes, thinking critically with data, seeing tasks through to completion, solving problems, and creating are Nikolai's sweet sweet forte.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Ombraz

Website: https://ombraz.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ombraz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ombrazsunglasses/

Today’s bonus episode is one worth sharing with everyone in your community: What to Do If ICE Agents Approach You. Whether you’re directly impacted, a concerned family member, or an ally, understanding these rights and sharing them with others is a step toward protecting vulnerable members of our communities.

In this episode, we will cover your rights when interacting with ICE or law enforcement, practical steps you can take if approached, where to find those small but powerful red “know your rights” cards, and what bystanders can do to help.

Este episodio también estará disponible en español.

https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

All information in this episode was provided by the ACLU.

El episodio de hoy es uno que vale la pena compartir con todos en tu comunidad: Qué hacer si agentes de ICE se acercan a ti.

Ya sea que te impacte directamente, seas un familiar preocupado o un amigo, comprender estos derechos y compartirlos con otros es un paso hacia la protección de los miembros afectados de nuestras comunidades.

En este episodio, cubriremos tus derechos al interactuar con ICE o con las fuerzas del orden, pasos prácticos que puedes tomar si se acercan a ti, dónde encontrar esas pequeñas pero poderosas tarjetas rojas de "conoce tus derechos", y lo que los testigos pueden hacer para ayudar.

Este episodio también estara en ingles.

Tarjetas Rojas: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas

Más información: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

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All information in this episode was provided by the ACLU.

Thank you to Karla Cazarez for recording this episode in Spanish.

In episode 165 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we discuss conservation, how the movement needs to change, and how to reframe conservation as a human right.

We cover the historical inequities in conservation, how social justice and environmental protection intersect, and what a rights-based approach to conservation could look like in practice. We’ll also discuss ways you can influence policymakers and advocate for a more inclusive conservation movement.

This conversation is packed with insights and actionable steps to help us reimagine conservation as a right for everyone, not just a privilege for a few. To help guide our conversation, I had the pleasure of chatting with Bray Beltran.

Bray was born and raised in Colombia. He moved to the United States when he was 21 and has been living here for 24 years. Bray is a recent transplant to the mid-Atlantic, but he spent nine years living in the deep South and 13 years in the Intermountain West.

Bray earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the US academic system, studying ecology, climate change, and conservation. After school, Bray started his career in conservation and worked on private land protection in the Northern Rockies for 10 years. During this time, Bray started to understand conservation not only within the historical context of American culture but also within the cultural context of 15,000+ years of Indigenous tenure and 500 years of Afro-descendant history in the Americas. Since then, Bray has strived to practice conservation considering the full historical and cultural context of the Americas to make sure our conservation actions and outcomes benefit the whole of society and include the perspectives, histories, and knowledge of historically marginalized communities.

Bray is a father, a husband, an only child to his mother, a brother, a cousin, and an uncle to his very large family. He can often be found tending to his garden or enjoying his surroundings near and far.

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