Coffee With People (Life with COVID): Recent Episodes
Leslie Kehmeier
Coffee habits and stories from freelancers, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and others connected with the outdoor adventure and travel industry.
Today you’re going to meet Megan Duehring, a southern California resident who likes coffee almost as much as she loves riding bikes. Megan’s passion for bicycles also happens to be her profession, something she’s feels lucky to be doing everyday. As manager of the STEPS e-bike Program for Shimano North America, Megan also coordinates advocacy and access projects with PeopleForBikes.
Megan‘s coffee story begins at a French bakery during college. These days her best memories are from coffee rides - days out on the bike with friends that include breaks for coffee and socializing.
Due to some technical difficulties, my conversation was cut short. Be sure to read the blog for the full conversation.
Enjoy this short, but very sweet episode with Megan!
Today I’m excited to share my conversation with Tina Ooley, mountain bike coach and advocate for underserved youth. A recent transplant to Fruita, Colorado from Durango and is the new Mesa County program manager for the Cycle Effect, a non-profit dedicated to creating equitable access through the sport of mountain biking
In a very thoughtful and inspiration way, Tina also shares her challenges of running a coaching business during the Coronavirus pandemic and how she has drawn from her inner strength to practice a life with more acceptance in a time when things are beyond our control. "Every stop that we come to in our life is a place to practice. To practice adapting and living in the moment.”
Enjoy this week’s episode!
Today I’m stoked to welcome my friend and fellow (native) Coloradan Trina Ortega. She and I met a few years back on a bike industry media trip and have worked together on and off since. As editor-in-chief of Mountain Flyer Magazine, Trina was in the midst of a deadline when the Coronavirus hit. During this episode, she gives us a sense of what life has been like working full-time, home-schooling her son, and how her community of Carbondale has rallied together. Trina’s kind spirit really shines through, especially when she reminds us that we shouldn’t let fear guide us through this uncertain time.
Most importantly, Trina shares her passion for properly made lattes. You’ll find out that the right type of mug and carefully crafted foam are important aspects of her daily drink.
Today I’m very excited to introduce Millete Birhanemaskal. She’s a realtor and owner of the Whittier Cafe in Denver.
I know Millete through Breanne Kiefner at Root Adventures. She introduced about a year ago just before we traveled to Ethiopia together on one of their trips. It was a mind-blowing experience. One thing that made it very special was Millete sharing her Ethiopian history as well as time with her family.
During this episode, we chat about how East African beans are super delicious and why the Whittier Cafe is a special place for bringing people together. It was so wonderful to catch up with Millete, she has bright and uplifting energy that makes everyone around her feel good. You’ll know what I mean when you jump into this episode.
Thanks for listening!
I learned a lot about coffee in this latest episode with Sam Higby, an outdoor adventurer and part-owner of First Ascent Coffee. He reminds us that coffee is more than just a beverage that gets us going each day. It is something that engages all the senses, a transcendent experience.
Sam takes us on his coffee journey which landed him in the outdoor paradise called Crested Butte. There, he works alongside his business partners Mark and Allison Drucker, to bring delicious coffee to the world. One exciting thing from this episode is the story of First Ascent's instant coffee. Skeptical? I was too until I had some…I can’t wait to take it on my next adventure!
Meet Emily Slaco. In the winter she’s on ski patrol and during the rest of the year she is mountain bike guide and coach. I met Emily last spring while shooting a Big Mountain Bike Adventures trip in Croatia. Emily is a big fan of coffee, starting the day with a nice espresso while enjoying mountain views from her home in Pemberton, BC.
As a guide and coach who travels a lot during the mountain bike season is learning to embrace an extended period at home. She’s really enjoying the simplicity and a slower pace of life, something that she hopes to carry with her into the new normal.
Today we’ll be chatting with Tara Llanes. Tara lives in beautiful British Columbia. where she is on the National Team for Wheelchair Basketball. I know Tara through the mountain bike world and my good buddy Elladee Brown.
There’s not much coffee talk in this episode as Tara is a former coffee drinker. Despite that, Tara shares her love of Yorkshire tea and walks us through her morning cup experience.
As an athlete, Tara and her team are training for the Tokyo Paralympics, something that’s been postposed to 2021. Tara gives us a sense for being away from her teammates and adapting her training in her home environment.
Canada week continues with my good friend Kelli Sherbinin. She is co-owner of Endless Biking, based in North Vancouver, British Columbia. I met Kelli for the first time two years ago in Kathmandu, Nepal - we were teamed up with Elladee Brown and Jaime Hill and had one of the biggest adventures of our lives. Aside from sharing the experience of riding mountain bikes over the biggest navigable pass in the world, we bonded over coffee, something we made every morning together with the Aeropress coffee machines that Elladee and I carried on our bikes.
Kelli has some sage advice for dealing with the Coronavirus. Like other things in life, she approaches a lot of her challenges with this equation - focus 10% on the problem and 90% on the solution.
I’m glad to report that there’s still toilet paper in British Columbia. This comes from my friend and very adventurous Mountain bike skills coach Sylvie Allen. I’ve known her since 2015 when I traveled up north to shoot for a Big Mountain Bike Adventures Trip. As some of you know the terrain there can be quite intimidating on the first trip there - especially the steep slabs. Sylvie taught me a few tricks that made the trip and have served me well ever since.
While Sylvie has the occasional cup of coffee, she’s more of a tea drinker, making her own elaborate concoction to drink in the morning - let’s jump in let her walk us through it.
Jaime is an entrepreneur who works on two ends of the spectrum. She’s an accountant and a mountain bike coach, satisfying both the analytical and athlete sides of her persona. I met Jaime in 2015 in Whistler, and thankfully we’ve had the chance to connect on some big adventures since then. We’ve also had coffee together in some far-flung places. At home, Jaime starts her day with fancy coffee, a customised drink that starts with chocolate and finishes with whipped cream.
Let’s jump into this episode as Jaime walks us through the process of her morning mocha, and also gives us a breakdown on what’s been challenging for her during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Have you ever had a slice or a cup of coffee after an awesome ride in Fruita? Chances are you have. In today’s episode, you’re going to spend some time with the catalysts behind those two mountain biker essentials. Meet Anne Keller and Jen Zeuner - owners of The Hot Tomato Pizza and part-owners of Best Slope Coffee.
As a fellow Coloradan, I got to know Anne and Jen for real last summer in the Chilcotin Mountains of Canada. We spent the better part of the week pushing our bikes uphill to ride down through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in North America. It was an amazing time filled with bikes, coffee and, the occasional stromboli.
But enough about that...
Listen in to find out what life is like running a restaurant and a coffee shop on the Western Slope of Colorado during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Today we take a trip to the South American country of Peru to talk with my guide friend, Nico Chirinos. I met Nico, and his brother Chente last October, while shooting for a Big Mountain Bike Adventures trip. They call it they Unforgettable Andres trip for a reason. Besides Morocco, Peru is one of the most memorable places that I’ve traveled with a mountain bike. The trails, culture and food are off the hook.
In this episode, you’ll come to know Nico's love for the nature and culture in his country, something I witnessed first hand last fall. He is also passionate about mountain biking, especially the opportunities that Peru provides. Although tourism is shut down for the moment - Nico is eternally optimistic. He and his brother, along with the rest the rest of their local crew are taking this time to be patient as the pacha mama takes a big deep breath.
I’m excited to introduce my good friend Lani Bruntz in today’s episode. I know her through my work with IMBA and the Trail Care Crew. Back then, one thing we really bonded over was seeking out adventurous things. We’ve managed to work and travel together on some interesting projects from places like Caliente, Nevada to the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. When she isn’t riding her bike, she’s probably searching for deep powder somewhere near Crested Butte in her role as a guide for Eleven Experience.
Today Lani tells us about how coffee is a joyful thing for her, so much so, that she never goes anywhere without it. Even when she's scaling peaks and out for days on end, you can be assured that Lani has some kind of coffee set-up with her.
Today we’ll meet Andrew Juiliano, a professional cyclocross racer and freelance writer and editor. He lives in Santa Barbara and got there by way of New Jersey. Andrew and I got connected through my work with Shimano. We’re both looking forward to summer and the release of a project we collaborated on over the winter.
Andrew doesn’t mess around with coffee - he just drinks it. The bigger the deadline, the more pots he makes.
With the Coronavirus making life uncertain and challenging, Andrew is taking everything in stride. He’s grateful for being healthy and the time to go out on really long early-season training rides.
I’m excited to start the week off with my colleague Kyle Sparks. He’s a photo editor for Patagonia - working on the climb, mountain bike and equipment categories. Kyle and I have worked together the last few years since I started contributing to Patagonia. We actually got to spend some time in person together in Feb. It was cool to meet in person…we rode bikes and ate tacos together - in hindsight I’m really thankful for the time considering the current situation.
Kyle gives us a lot of good nuggets in this episode, including what he misses about looking a printed photos, as well as some details about his passion for hot chocolate. One fun story in particular is the time he ordered an affogato. Normally this drink comes with coffee, so as one could imagine, it threw the barista for a loop.
Today we’re going to meet Chris Winter, owner of Big Mountain Bike Adventures. The first time I met Chris Winter was in the fall of 2013. I had just arrived in Kathmandu after 40+ hours of travel. We were about to embark on a two-week guided mountain bike trip through Nepal’s Himalayan Mountains. Among other things, we learned we were both creatives blessed with a condition called wanderlust. Since then, I’ve worked for Big Mountain in five continents, drinking a lot coffee along the way.
In the episode Chris shares his eternal optimism about the current state of affairs. He reminds us that things will be that much sweeter when we can travel again
Today you’ll meet Serena Bishop-Gordon, professional cyclist and coach. She’s one of my most thoughtful and inspirational friends - we always have a lot to talk about when we spend time together.
Coffee is more than a hot drink for Serena, it’s a ritual that starts her day off with a positive spin. With her race and event season up in the air, Serena is taking the uncertainty in stride, choosing to focus on the joy and preparation of being a lifelong athlete. You can bet she’ll be ready when the time comes to get back out there.
Today we welcome Koel Thomae to the podcast. She’s an entrepreneur and adventurous traveler. In fact, we had the chance to travel together a few times last year, something we’re both really grateful for now. Koel tells a few stories fun about coffee, including a visit to the La Marzocco factory in Florence, Italy and memories of her stepmother serving Viennese coffee during her youth. She considers herself a social coffee drinker and admits that coffee is really just her vehicle for enjoying whipped cream.
Koel is one of my most energetic and adaptable friends - two things she’s relying on during this time of the Coronavirus. In addition to quickly getting up to speed as a homeschool parent-teacher, she’s keeping up with activities and routines that have always made her happy. As she recalls the action-packed days when she was starting and running her business, Noosa Yogurt, Koel emphasizes the importance of making time for exercise to stay healthy and sane.
Finally - we have a very special guest to open the show. Koel’s daughter Matilda, gives us her take on coffee and caffeine ;-)
Enjoy this episode!
It’s my pleasure to introduce my friend Brian Fox. I’ve known him since my days at IMBA where we collaborated on some really cool projects that involved trails and maps. Since then we’ve ridden a lot of trails and had a lot of coffees together.
When Brian isn’t riding bikes or chasing his three boys, he’s hard at work as a management consultant for the government. I don’t know exactly what he does - whatever it is, Brian is very innovative and you can bet he is doing brilliant things. What I do know, is that Brian knows good coffee…so let’s get into this episode.
Happy Monday everyone - I hope you had a great weekend. We start the week with my good friend Ben Gordon. I’ve known him since 2014, during my conservation days when I was documenting trails for IMBA (the International Mountain Bicycling Association). We met through an advocacy ride in Idaho and have been friends since then, trying to meet annually to ride somewhere. Last summer he and his wife traveled to Europe to visit Chris and me, and of course, to experience both coffee and mountain biking throughout the Alps.
Two things about Ben that I admire - he’s a deep thinker and an amazing storyteller. Case in point - Ben tells the story of his first coffee experience in the desert of Israel at the age of 15. To find out what happens, grab a cuppa and settle for the latest episode.
Enjoy!
I had a chance to catch up with my Denver-based friend and colleague Danielle Schmeider last Friday. I got to know her early last year through a Root Adventures trip to the Baja in Mexico. We found that we have a common passion for fitness and good health. Since that adventure, Danielle has been a major inspiration for my training. I’ve become a convert to strength/cardio workouts, showing up regularly at Pearl Street Fitness, one of the gyms where she in an instructor.
The Coronavirus pandemic has hit close to home for Danielle, as her parents both battled the virus last month. Her dad had the worst of it, spending time in the ICU, on a ventilator. I am grateful to report that both of Danielle’s parents are ok now and doing well. She graciously shares the story in today's episode, walking us through the timeline and details of her parents experience with COVID.
Louise Paulin, mountain bike guide, mom of two, and 2019 EWS Masters Champion is today's guest. She lives in a small village, five kilometers above the world-renowned outdoor destination of Finale Ligure, Italy. Even better than the riding is the coffee, something she's dreaming about well before morning.
Louise gives us a very honest perspective on what life is like presently in Italy. It hasn't been easy - things are strange. It's a heartbreaking situation for sure. Although locals are not allowed to go out and recreate, Louise is making the best of it - home-schooling her kids, yoga, meditation, and gardening. She emphasizes the best thing to do (which is what we can all do) is to take social distancing very seriously.
Enjoy this episode with Louise!
I’m super excited for today’s episode with my very dear friend Elladee Brown. We share a love of coffee and adventure, among other things. In the last couple of years we’ve traveled a lot together, documenting bike-related stories around the world. No matter where we go, our approach is simple: go with wide eyes, big hearts, and plenty of good coffee. During our bikepacking adventure to Nepal, we each carried an Aero Press and plenty of fresh coffee for the 10-day odyssey.
These days Elladee’s big adventure is gardening in her backyard in North Vancouver, British Columbia while she, and the rest of the world, wait out the Coronavirus pandemic. Enjoy!
Today we travel across the Atlantic Ocean again, this time to the Czech Republic. You'll meet my friend Jan, who along with his business partner Radim, own Czech MTB Holidays. I first met them in 2017 when I joined my Knoxville friends on their inaugural tour. Last year I returned for another adventure - the riding in the Czech Republic is definitely underrated.
With the Coronavirus pandemic, business is currently at a standstill. Despite all of their tours being postponed for now, Jan, along with his clients are optimistic and looking forward to a time when the world moves on to its "new normal". In the meantime, Jan is enjoying extended time at home with his wife and young daughter.
Enjoy today's episode!
We’re starting off the week with my good friend Corie Spruill - a portrait photographer from Moab, Utah. When Corie isn’t shooting, she’s riding her mountain bike somewhere in one of the world’s most beautiful and iconic destinations on the planet.
When the Coronavirus pandemic ramped up in the United States, Corie and I were on traveling together, working on my road trip project. As we turned Henry Tan Van around and headed back west towards home, we had plenty of time to discuss the current state of affairs. We also drank coffee and rode bikes, two things that kept us grounded along the way.
Today’s episode takes us to the Swiss Alps and a small village named Pontresina. Here is where Allegra Tourismus is headquartered, a company that I collaborate with frequently during the summer work season. Darco Cazin is the founder of Allegra and a purist when it comes to coffee. He likes it black no matter where or when he’s drinking it.
While discussing the Coronavirus pandemic, Darco shared quite a few silver linings, especially having lots of time at home with his family. He also reflects on how this uncertain time is a huge opportunity for us as a society to take positive lessons learned with us into the future when we reach the new “normal”.
Selected Links
Allegra Tourismus
Bialetti Moka
Adventures on Bernina Pass - a story about a mountain bike shuttle day by train in the Swiss Alps.
I met Denverite and Whittier Cafe regular, Breanne Kiefner early last year through a mutual friend. We started working together in Baja which led to another trip to Ethiopia. Breanne owns and operates Root Adventures, an adventure travel company that connects like-mind people through travel. The Baja trip was my first experience on a women’s only travel adventure, which proved to be a transformative experience for me. When the opportunity came up to shoot her Ethiopia trip - it was a no-brainer. Breanne’s vision for people connecting and pushing their own boundaries through small group travel has been an amazing way to see for me to see part of the world. Enjoy episode 3 with Breanne!
Beth Roberts is a good friend and one of my go-to purveyors of talent when it comes to taking photos for mountain bike brands. She lives in Moab, Utah and is a multi-day guide for Rim Tours. I met Beth a couple of years ago while shooting for Rim’s Grand Canyon - North Rim Trip. I discovered she’s cool as a cucumber and her dark humor kept my sides hurting for much of the trip. She also has innovative ideas for photos and makes a mean cup of coffee from Rim Tour’s signature American Press.
Enjoy this episode with Beth!
The first episode of Coffee With COVID as host Leslie Kehmeier, an outdoor adventure and travel photographer, introduces a podcast that will shine a light on her network of fellow freelancers, small business owners and entrepreneurs in the outdoor adventure and travel industry.