The Kyle Thiermann Show
The Kyle Thiermann Show

The Kyle Thiermann Show

Kyle Thiermann

Overview
Episodes

Details

Conversations with intellectual athletes and athletic intellectuals. If you're new here, try starting with #96 Albee Layer, #139 Matt Taibbi, #157 Peter Attia, #206 Chris Ryan, #216 Rick Hanson, #233 Steve Rinella, or #340 Mark Healey. Kyle Thiermann is a journalist, copywriter, and sponsored surfer for Patagonia. His work spans from editorial (Men's Health, Surfer, Outside) to creative (Patagonia, Yeti, MUD\WTR). He has written billboards above LAX, viral commercials seen by over a hundred million people, and steered better-for-you brands to cultural relevance with breakthrough advertising ideas. Kyle is represented by DiFiore Literary Agency and is in the process of publishing his first book.

thiermann.substack.com

Recent Episodes

#403 How to Die - My Mom (Kimberly)
DEC 12, 2025
#403 How to Die - My Mom (Kimberly)
<p>In one of the early chapters of my book, my mom assembles her Gravity Kit, an assortment of belongings she’ll leave behind once gravity wins. The kit includes passwords to her accounts, photos from her life, music that moved her, and a number of other personal belongings usually left in disarray for the children to rummage through. As she once said, “logistics often get in the way of grief.” In this very personal episode, we talk about how to assemble your own Gravity Kit, the hidden value of saving voicemails, and how to maintain strong relationships even through disagreement. This one was a tear-jerker. <em>If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kyle-thiermann-show/id1170975976%23see-all/reviews&#38;sa=D&#38;source=calendar&#38;usd=2&#38;usg=AOvVaw1i6laP4KpoM2F4Jvb95Yfu"><em>Apple Podcasts</em></a><em>? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@kyle_tman&#38;sa=D&#38;source=calendar&#38;usd=2&#38;usg=AOvVaw2MSJk4BgkGzEt-bFE3Nh2L"><em>YouTube channel</em></a><em> and join my newsletter on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thiermann.substack.com/&#38;sa=D&#38;source=calendar&#38;usd=2&#38;usg=AOvVaw2RpXj15vkAfc6LMyCmkT42"><em>Substack</em></a><em>. It’s glorious. My first book, </em><a target="_blank" href="https://geni.us/onelastqbeforeyougo"><em>ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO</em></a><em>, is available to order today.</em></p><p><p>Kyle Thiermann is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at <a href="https://thiermann.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">thiermann.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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73 MIN
#402 The Hidden Benefits of Self-Publishing - Adam Skolnick
DEC 1, 2025
#402 The Hidden Benefits of Self-Publishing - Adam Skolnick
<p>This podcast is with Adam Skolnick, an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, travel and human rights for The New York Times, Outside, Playboy and Lonely Planet. He is the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, the ghost writer and narrator of David Goggins’ smash hit memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, and he is a co-host on the Rich Roll Podcast. His latest book, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Tiger-Adam-Skolnick/dp/1544549865/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Z4T75TWROIFV&#38;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SySkxhTiQSp1HYkxcZLW1nmz9kQCR9SOD6IsnZo3coFg2-GkmWAL-lnrWviIYQ1ovMrL1pstqxDHuJxh1RM0bqfms9fG2XU2SPrDv-btNu766a0U-ISmt6wUK4tusE1YfejCBE6oUYuxaudXMTtpFfhReEojh25CEuOjFQ_xBAdWTR5cMCm34Peo6fpgSHbT0ANdegcETbMp7mUMsBP4H5J7e-L5s_DU0EhFchNeu7I.t-jrtuDyumwVFkYyXH9SQh7IcAeRDh6shi8r9Nl5RCg&#38;dib_tag=se&#38;keywords=american+tiger+book&#38;qid=1763249377&#38;sprefix=american+tiger%2Caps%2C241&#38;sr=8-1">American Tiger</a>, is available to order now. (I’ve read it and it fucking rocks.) In this episode, we talk about the state of publishing today, the Southern California wilderness, and creativity as lantern offerings. Follow Adam’s Substack <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/@adamskolnick">here</a>.</p><p><em>If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kyle-thiermann-show/id1170975976#see-all/reviews"><em>Apple Podcasts</em></a><em>? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@kyle_tman"><em>YouTube channel</em></a><em> and join my newsletter on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://thiermann.substack.com/"><em>Substack</em></a><em>. It’s glorious. My first book, ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, is available to </em><a target="_blank" href="https://geni.us/onelastqbeforeyougo"><em>order</em></a><em> today.</em></p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at <a href="https://thiermann.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">thiermann.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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83 MIN
#401 Photography & Psychedelics - Chris Burkard (Repost)
NOV 24, 2025
#401 Photography & Psychedelics - Chris Burkard (Repost)
<p>Tuesday, November 25: Book tour event at Patagonia Santa Cruz @7pm. It’s free. BYOP (Bring Your Own Parent). <a target="_blank" href="https://onelastquestion.splashthat.com/">RSVP here</a>. Okay, onto the podcast…</p><p>Chris Burkard (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/chrisburkard/?hl=en">@ChrisBurkard</a>) is an acclaimed American photographer, filmmaker, and storyteller known for his breathtaking landscape photography. Born in San Luis Obispo, California, Burkard rose to prominence through his striking surf photography in remote and often icy locations like Iceland, Norway, and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. His work captures the raw beauty of nature, often blending elements of human exploration and environmental grandeur. Burkard’s style is marked by expansive compositions, ethereal light, and a reverence for the wild. Beyond photography, he is also a sought-after speaker, author of several books, and director of award-winning documentaries, including <em>Under an Arctic Sky</em>. A passionate advocate for environmental preservation and outdoor adventure, Burkard uses his platform to inspire others to seek meaningful connections with the natural world. His work has been featured by <em>National Geographic</em>, <em>The New Yorker</em>, <em>Apple</em>, and <em>Patagonia</em>, among others. Whether hanging from a cliff face or paddling through freezing surf, Burkard’s lens invites viewers to embrace discomfort, awe, and the power of the untamed.</p><p><em>If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kyle-thiermann-show/id1170975976#see-all/reviews"><em>Apple Podcasts</em></a><em>? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@kyle_tman"><em>YouTube channel</em></a><em> and join my newsletter on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://thiermann.substack.com/"><em>Substack</em></a><em>. It’s glorious. My first book, ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, is available to </em><a target="_blank" href="https://geni.us/onelastqbeforeyougo"><em>order</em></a><em> today.</em></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at <a href="https://thiermann.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">thiermann.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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77 MIN
#400 He Paddled 1,000 Miles Down Baja - Sean Janson (Repost)
NOV 14, 2025
#400 He Paddled 1,000 Miles Down Baja - Sean Janson (Repost)
<p>Sean Jansen is a freelance writer and seasonal wilderness guide in Yellowstone National Park. He’s intense, slightly awkward, and deeply committed to dancing with the more raw frequencies of human experience. I love this guy. During his off-season from guiding, he partakes in a litany of expeditions from thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to his recent trip, standup paddling more than 1,000 miles down the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. Through recovery from alcoholism, he has moved into a van and spends his time flying fishing trout streams, training for ultra-marathons, and searching the coast for unsurfed waves. With a passion for wilderness and wild places, he often takes his pen and paper on trips and finds ways that the outdoor recreation activities he loves can give back to conservation and environmental areas in need. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/jansen_journals/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and read his new book, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJWJQTQX">Paddling with Porpoise</a>.</p><p><em>If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kyle-thiermann-show/id1170975976#see-all/reviews"><em>Apple Podcasts</em></a><em>? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@kyle_tman"><em>YouTube channel</em></a><em> and join my newsletter on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://thiermann.substack.com/"><em>Substack</em></a><em>. It’s glorious. My first book, ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, is available to </em><a target="_blank" href="https://geni.us/onelastqbeforeyougo"><em>order</em></a><em> today.</em></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at <a href="https://thiermann.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">thiermann.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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106 MIN
#399 From Surfing Dungeons to Saving Coasts - Mike Schlebach
OCT 31, 2025
#399 From Surfing Dungeons to Saving Coasts - Mike Schlebach
<p>Mike Schlebach is a South African big-wave surfer and coastal-activist deeply rooted in the surf culture of Cape Town’s wild Atlantic coast. Mike made his name charging serious surf at spots like Dungeons and the offshore reef at Sunset Reef. More recently, he has emerged as a voice against illegal mineral‐sand mining along South Africa’s West Coast, using his platform to raise awareness and protect coastline communities. Follow Mike <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/mikeschlebach/">here</a>. </p><p><em>If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kyle-thiermann-show/id1170975976#see-all/reviews"><em>Apple Podcasts</em></a><em>? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my </em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@kyle_tman"><em>YouTube channel</em></a><em> and join my newsletter on </em><a target="_blank" href="https://thiermann.substack.com/"><em>Substack</em></a><em>. It’s glorious. My first book, ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, is available to </em><a target="_blank" href="https://geni.us/onelastqbeforeyougo"><em>preorder</em></a><em> today.</em></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at <a href="https://thiermann.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">thiermann.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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71 MIN