Today on the show it's a special Fourth of July episode of The Rock Fight as Colin is finally joined by outdoor journalist and sustainability legend Kristin Hostetter, to talk about her big 2024 hot take that it is time to ban fireworks.

Last year Kristin wrote this piece offering all the reasons why we should rethink fireworks despite them being a significant fixture in modern society. We covered her article here on The Rock Fight and now, to celebrate this year's Fourth of July, Colin finally gets to chat with Kristin.

In addition to fireworks we also get to hear what Kristin is currently working on to lead a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

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Today on the show the Monday boys, Producer Dave and outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford, join Colin to talk about the following topics:

• Back to school predictions! Reports are coming in that tariffs are impacting early back to school shopping. What does this mean for the second biggest shopping season of the year? (07:20)
• In a recent interview, Topo Athletic founder Tony Post reveals the secrets behind the trail running footwear brands big 2024 growth. Is Topo poised to take the trail running shoe championship belt? (12:40)
• Wolverine has launched a made in the USA work boot. Is this the beginning of a wave of loud domestically made product launches? (21:46)

After last weeks edition of TrailCon, an industry strategist posited that trail running is poised to go mainstream. For today's main topic the boys talk about what 'going mainstream' means to the outdoor industry in 2025 and what trail running being mainstream would actually look like. (27:33)

For The Parting Shot we saunter back over to pickleball corner as Colin takes umbrage with a recent survey. (52:47)

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Today on the show Colin welcomes Tania Lown-Hecht from the Outdoor Alliance and Friends of Grand Rapids Parks Executive Director Stacy Bare to chat about the latest efforts to sell off our public lands.

Tania provides an update of where things stand with Senator Mike Lee's proposed sell off while Stacy provides some context on the importance of protecting and preserving our public lands.

Our public lands need your help! Click here to contact your local representatives to send word that you do not support the sale of America's public lands.

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Today on the show Colin is joined by outdoor author and journalist Shawnté Salabert to run through the following stories to come out of the outdoor adventure community:

• Bison Attack 2: Electric Bisaloo? A Yellowstone visitor has been gored by a bison...again. (08:19)
• A grizzly bear has pushed a hiker off a cliff. New fear unlocked for Shawnté on the eve of her departure to the JMT? (14:21)
• A man was pinned by a boulder while hiking in Alaska. How can you be prepared for that?! (18:50)
• Would carrying a gun make you feel more secure when out on the trail? (24:25)

For The Parting Shot Colin wants us to stop recruiting others to go outside, but probably not for the reasons you think. Meanwhile Shawnté promises to send us voice memos from the trail! (34:45)

Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!

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Today on The Rock Fight our normal Monday crew of Producer Dave and outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford join Colin to run through the following topics!

We already have the dates and location for next year's Switchback Spring. With the show staying June, will there be a public pushback by brands? (07:28)

It's The Rock Fight Lightning Round where we hit a couple of industry news stories:

• Moody's has downgraded VF due to the poor performance of Vans and Dickies. How does this news impact the broader outdoor industry? (15:40)
• Solo Brands makes some moves that will help them avoid bankruptcy. (18:02)

Today's main topic peels back a key takeaway from last weeks OIA Trends presentation that took place at Switchback, namely that the casual outdoor consumer is growing and outdoor retailers should be luring those consumers into their stores. We ponder how that should be done and wonder if the outdoor industry as a whole has a genuine marketing problem. (23:16)

For The Parting Shot Colin hosts a round of "What Year Is This Outdoor Industry Story From?!". (47:05)

Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!

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Today on the show we finish off our coverage of Showpocalypse 2025 with The Rock Fight's instant reaction to Switchback.

Recorded in a Nashville hotel ballroom on the second day of the trade show, Colin is joined by Producer Dave, Shawnté Salabert, and outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford to talk about what they liked, what they didn't like, and what needs to be improved for next time when it comes to the newest trade show in the outdoor scene.

They also revisit their pre-show predictions to see what they got right and what did not come to pass.

Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!

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Today on the show we present a live recording of The Rock Fight, straight from the floor of Switchback Spring!

This past week Colin was joined by Producer Dave, Shawnté Salabert, and outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford in Nashville, TN to record an episode of The Rock Fight in front of the crowd at Switchback Spring.

The crew handed out their brand booth awards and were also joined by Switchback show director, Christina Henderson, president of the OIA Kent Ebersole, president of Mountain Hardwear, Troy Sicotte, and GM of Cumberland Transit, Jason Thienel.

Whether you were there when it happened or missed it entirely, relive this live recording of The Rock Fight!

Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!

Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.

Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.

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