After wrapping up my month in Europe, I thought the adventure was over. Instead, it ended with a wildfire blocking my route through the Pyrenees, hitchhiking across Spain, a Tour de France road closure, and enough ticks to send me to the doctor with a Lyme disease scare. I start this episode by sharing how the final days of the trip unfolded and what I've been dealing with since getting home.

Then I sit down with Hunter Macy, the founder of Rendezvu, to talk about one of the biggest problems in trail running and outdoor sports: figuring out what gear actually works. We discuss authentic gear recommendations, athlete-brand relationships, AI, entrepreneurship, and why the future of outdoor gear may look very different than today's sponsored posts and scattered gear lists.

Topics include:

My final days hiking in the Pyrenees

Wildfires, hitchhiking, and travel chaos

The Lyme disease scare after Europe

Why gear reviews are so difficult to trust

How Rendezvu is connecting athletes, brands, and real gear recommendations

Building a startup in the outdoor industry

Where trail running gear is headed next

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