September means Fall is here! This month we sit down with Chris Steinkamp, Executive Director of Mountain Towns 2030, to talk about how mountain communities are becoming the test labs for real climate solutions — from resilient infrastructure to the climate tech actually getting deployed on the ground. Malone also nerds out hard on geothermal energy, because obviously the onsens had to come up. We also break down the Mountain Towns 2030 Summit — Oct 13–14 in Sun Valley, ID — where 600+ people from 80 mountain communities and 50 ski resorts show up to build what's next for climate action in places like ours. Anyone can attend, not just industry!

Register / learn more: https://mt2030.org/mt2030-climate-summit-sun-valley-2026/

Links:

Mountain Towns 2030: https://mt2030.org

Summer is flying by, but we've got a new episode to remind you about the importance of WINTER! We sit down with Erin Sprague, CEO of @protectourwinters — the org turning outdoor people into climate advocates.

We get into how POW is mobilizing skiers, riders, and trail runners into a political force, what shrinking snowpack actually means for mountain towns like ours, and what any of us who live for winter can do beyond just recycling our beer cans.

Also: Erin once ran a marathon in Antarctica. We talk about that too.

Listen to Sherry McConkey's journey from South Africa to Tahoe, her love for animals, and the establishment of the Shane McConkey Foundation. The conversation covers the EcoChallenge and the foundation's events, funding, and impact. It also explores the growth and impact of the EcoChallenge, expanding participation, influence on policy, and future goals.

In this episode, Ingrid & Malone sit down with Tatsuya Tayagaki — Japanese professional skier and one of the most thoughtful voices in the mountain world — to explore omotenashi, the deeply rooted Japanese philosophy of wholehearted care and hospitality. What does it mean to treat the mountain the way a great host treats a guest? To show up with gratitude instead of just taking? Tatsuya teaches us that philosophy. And yes, Japanese snacks are discussed!

What do a memory foam mattress and climate policy have in common? The legendary Mike Douglas has a theory, and he breaks it down in this live conversation recorded at Arai Resort in Myoko, Japan. Ingrid and Malone share a beer with Mike and talk about the magic of skiing in Japan, the new gear he is sporting, and why he believes slow, sustained pressure is the key to driving real change in the mountains we love.

Join us for our fun and fascinating conversation with Emilé Zynobia - professional snowboarder, appearing in several ski and snowboard movies including The Approach and the recently released Inaccessible. Emilé is a sustainability advocate and consultant, graduate of the Yale School of Environmental Management, and Athlete Team Manager at Mountain Hardwear. Listen to Emilé's personal journey and delve into the complexities of the "sustainability rubix cube."

Ingrid and Malone are joined by Mike Nathan, Sustainability Manager at Arapahoe Basin to discuss how the ski resort achieved its sustainability goals for 2025 early, what the future holds, and what skiers and riders can do this season to make our sport more sustainable. And don't miss a close "Name That Tune" contest!

Music courtesy of The New Mastersounds, "High on the Mountain"

Pilot episode of the All Mountain Podcast co-hosted by Ingrid Backstrom and Malone Camp with special guests