THE MAGAZINE FOR CREATORS & BRANDS
VOL.2 | JANUARY 2021 | FIRESIDEX.COM
FiresideX
© Steven Lomas // @lomas06
CURATED AND EDITED BY Richard Potts
CONTRIBUTORS Fern Freud // @foraged.by.fern Grace Kelly // @graces__adventures Kate Booth // @kateamandaexplores James Fortune // @jameswfortune Richard Potts // @firesidebrewco
COVER PHOTO INSIDE BACK COVER PHOTO BACK COVER PHOTO CONTENTS PHOTO
Steven Lomas // @lomas06 Dan Johnson // @dan___johnson Lee Cooper // @leecooperphotography Georgie Ball // @georgieballphotography
ONLINE Website www.firesidex.com Website www.firesidebrew.co Email hello@firesidebrew.co Event: www.firesidesummit.com Instagram @firesidebrewco Facebook @firesidebrewco
Published in the UK by Whisper Media Ltd. FiresideX is produced under Creative Commons license CC BY-SA.
FOREWORD. By Richard Potts
W
hat a difference a year makes. The first
Kelly and Kate Booth who are showing that passion can
volume of this magazine went live 11
become purpose and purpose can become brand, for
months ago and a few weeks later the
those with the determination to explore. We have a raw
world changed. None of us have lived through such a
and arrestingly important piece from James Fortune,
period of uncertainty and disruption, and yet through
who has used his photography and love of nature to
it all I’ve been astounded by the indomitable positivity
overcome mental health challenges.
and determination of creative, outdoorsy folk the world over. FiresideX is about those people and their ethos. It’s about the creators and adventurers, the wanderers and wayfarers, the makers and artists. It’s also about the brands they’re building to enshrine their passion and make from it something great. The concept of this magazine came while sat around many campfires, staring into the vellicate flames and putting the world
I’ve also written about the Fireside brand journey and imparted some hard-won learnings for those with an entrepreneurial spirit. Congratulations to over cover photo competition winner, Steven Lomas, with his stunning shot of the Neowise comet over the Tyne, and to our runners up, Dan Johnson and Lee Cooper whose beautiful photos adorn the inside back and back cover respectively.
to rights late into the night. While none of us can
I hope you enjoy this edition as much as I’ve enjoyed
congregate around firelight right now, the sentiment of
curating it and please do follow the links throughout
the fireside chat can still be enjoyed through the stories
and give our intrepid storytellers a social follow.
and images of the creative luminaries we’ve been fortunate enough to have contribute to this volume.
Onward.
Those stories are worth your time and we’ve rendered them here unabridged. So, make yourself a brew, relax and let the trail sweep you away. You’ll discover the ancient world of foraging that Fern Freud is quietly, and successfully, re-imagining for the socially and environmentally conscious generation. If summits and adventures are your thing then you’ll love the unfettered enthusiasm of Grace
Richard Potts, Editor
03 FOREWORD
06 FORAGED BY FERN Fern Freud
28 VLOGGING UP MOUNTAINS Grace Kelly
© Georgie Ball // @georgieballphotography
38 FINDING YOUR CALLING Kate Booth
52 DISCONNECT. RECONNECT. James W. Fortune
64 FORGED BY FIRE Richard Potts
Foraged by Fern. THE ANCIENT WAYS THAT ARE BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
Words & photos by Fern Freud
© Fern Freud
8
W
hen I was around 10 years old my Dad
but we weren’t nearly as cued up enough to be 100%
decided to take us out mushroom
positive on our IDs. Furthermore, if we had a death cap
hunting. I think he probably had a
or another deadly mushroom in our basket mixed up
friend who had taken him and he thought it was a cool
with our edible mushrooms, it may have dropped its
thing to do so, off we went. He had absolutely no idea
spores onto it, rendering it inedible.
what he was doing but it was an amazing experience. We wandered over the south downs, wellies on and eyes
“I was uploading our finds and our subsequent feasts to social media, and pretty soon lots of people were asking if they could tag along.”
keen, popping one of every type of mushroom we came across into our basket. (Note: this is certainly not how I recommend starting your mushroom hunting journey!) I thought we were going to find the little white
Thankfully, myself and my brother were pretty
button mushrooms you find in the supermarket,
suspicious about eating any of the mushrooms we’d
because that’s all I knew of mushrooms, but I was so
picked and we managed to put my dad off eating them
wrong!
in those early days too.
There were little pink jelly ones growing from the sides
We continued to hunt for mushrooms, but for a long
of trees, huge squishy yellow ones the size of dinner
time, we were just learning, eating only the very-begin-
plates, ones that looked like sponges, smelly ones, shiny
ner-friendly mushrooms, like giant puffballs and penny
ones and spotty ones. I was amazed.
buns.As soon as I was old enough, I started going along
From there we headed home, our basket full, to learn
to guided walks and workshops, which were so
more about our finds. We tipped our mushrooms over
incredibly helpful. There’s nothing like having an expert
the dining room table and began flicking through huge
guide you around the woodland.
dusty old mushroom books to try and identify them.
As foraging involves all of your senses, it’s very hard
I was hooked! I wanted to know what they all were and
learning about new mushrooms solely from books. I
I wanted to know their stories. The way we started
picked it up pretty quickly as we’d been doing it for so
foraging in our family is definitely not the way I’d
long anyway, and it soon became my favourite hobby.
recommend to others. It’s not particularly safe,
I was uploading our finds and our subsequent feasts to
especially if you want to eat any of your fungal finds. We
social media, and pretty soon lots of people were asking
might have had some edible mushrooms in our basket,
9
if they could tag along.
Which means I’m constantly coming up with new dishes that feature and showcase the wild foods around
At one point, I was out foraging with around three
us.
friends’ families, their dogs and their kids, talking about the wild foods we were collecting and what we could do
“There is a wonderful community of foragers on Facebook and Instagram and I often come across fantastic, novel ways to use ingredients.”
with them, when I realised it could be a business.
“Cooking with foraged ingredients definitely took my love of cooking to another level.”
I also read a lot, as wild food was used much more often in times gone by. Old recipe books are very helpful to
So around three years ago I started running my own
study. Social media is also an amazing place for learning
guided foraging walks and it grew from there.
and inspiration too.
I’ve always been a keen cook. I used to love cooking
There is a wonderful community of foragers on
with my Mum, whether it was throwing big handfuls of
Facebook and Instagram and I often come across
cheese into pasta dishes or learning how to make her
fantastic, novel ways to use ingredients.
amazing chilli con carne.
I’ve also connected with a real-world community of
Cooking with foraged ingredients definitely took my
foragers too, and am always learning through them.
love of cooking to another level though.
Whether it’s a new use for a little herb or how to find truffles!
There are barely any recipes online for quite a lot of wild foods, so you really have to consider their flavours and
I don’t think I could choose just one person who
experiment with how best to make the most of them.
inspires me most in the foraging world, although John Wright is a strong contender.
I have continued to develop my cookery and foraging skills through my work.
I used to love watching River Cottage and seeing John
At my workshops, I cook over a campfire for the group
making elderflower champagne and hunt for
and I have lots of people that come back again and
mushrooms. He has so many amazing books on
again, so I like to have something new for them to try.
foraging too.
10
11
Photos © Fern Freud
© Fern Freud
BUILDING A NATURAL BRAND Part II, by Fern Freud
© Fern Freud
I
am now able to run my business full time. I make most of my income through workshops and 1:1 foraging sessions and I mainly work for myself but also freelance for some outdoor dining and adventure companies. I
also work with some online brands to bring in some extra income. My advice to someone interested in starting their own business would be to learn as much as you can about marketing!
“Just go for it! So many people have ideas and dreams and they don’t lean into them because they’re worried it’s not safe or sensible.” When I decided I wanted to run foraging walks full time, I got a job as a market exec for a year, while running my foraging walks at weekends. It was an office job and although my bosses and co-workers were the loveliest people you can imagine, it was pretty horrible. But it was so worth it. Being able to market my business has helped me connect with as many people as possible and has been key to helping my business grow. There are so many people offering amazing products and services out there, but they just aren’t being seen by enough people. Also just go for it! So many people have ideas and dreams and they don’t lean into them because they’re worried it’s not safe or sensible. But, we live in a pretty unstable economy anyway, even with a steady job working for a big company, you never know where you might end up. Why not give it a go?
I
still just use my iPhone 8 for photography and video content creation at the moment. I have used a Canon M50 for some Youtube videos but I prefer to use my phone. For someone starting out, I’d say don’t worry about spending money on kit. You don’t want blurry photos and bad quality videos but a decent phone and a
tripod (if you’re filming yourself) will do.
16
© Fern Freud
I think people on social media love seeing a regular person doing what they love. It doesn’t need to look shiny and polished, as long as you’re delivering quality content that helps people achieve or learn something, you’ll be golden.
17
CONNECTING THROUGH NATURE Part III, by Fern Freud
© Fern Freud
“Foraging is not only a way to utilise the free food and medicine that grows around us, but it’s also an activity that’s beneficial for mental health and wellbeing.”
M
y main aim is to help bring people closer
and would benefit from it most by working with local
to
charities and food waste projects.
nature
through
foraging.
It’s
important to me that my business is real
I think foraging could definitely become mainstream. I
and authentic, that it helps people step away from their
have considered whether that might cause disruption to
phones and make a real connection to the world around
wildlife and our wild spaces, but having experienced the
them, to their families and to their communities.
shift in peoples’ way of looking at nature after getting
I would love to build an outdoor community centre
into foraging, I don’t think it would be a problem.
where people can come and learn about foraging and
Foraging isn’t about grabbing what you can from the
other slow living and outdoor crafts. It would have a
countryside to make a huge feast for you and your
little forest school for children, a community kitchen
family. It’s about forming a connection to the wild
and a camping area. We’ll have traditional festivals for
plants around you. Learning their histories and their
the community and make the most of all the food that
uses and taking a little here and there to add into a dish.
goes to waste around us. I would also love to build an
The more people learn about wild plants, the more they
online community which provides the same results to
value them and want to protect them.
people outside of Sussex and create resources for people to learn how to forage. Whether it be books or
Also, foraging for food in today's world is really about
activity boxes.
adding little foraged additions to your regular meals, rather than to create a whole dish out of wild
It’s also important to me to make foraging really
ingredients, which would be completely unsustainable
accessible. Foraging is not only a way to utilise the free
and unrealistic for so many people. Wild foods are much
food and medicine that grows around us, but it’s also
more nutrient dense than shop bought foods, so even a
an activity that’s beneficial for mental health and
handful of nettle (which thrives from being cut back
wellbeing. It shouldn’t be reserved for white middle-
and grows back more densely) is an amazing way to get
class people. I’d love to see more diversity in foraging
foraged foods into your diet!
and to be able to bring foraging to people who need it
20
© Fern Freud
© Fern Freud
I
think connecting people to nature in today’s world
quickly begin to feel laborious and stressful.
is imperative. Rates of depressions and suicide are out of control and we can see strong links between
“Don’t take things personally, and remember that you are there to grow and to learn. You will always make mistakes and people will call you out on them, but that’s okay! You’re only human.”
this and the rise of social media. (It might seem a little counter-intuitive for me to say this, seeing as I use social media as a platform to spread the foraging message, but it’s a means to an end.) In Japan, doctors even prescribe forest bathing to those
But at the end of the day, I’m filming myself doing what
who are stressed and overworked. We’re so out of
I love. I guess it’s mindfulness in action. You have to
touch with where our food comes from and how to live
watch your thoughts and steer them in a positive
in a sustainable manner, as part of the natural world, I
direction. Sometimes I would rather be doing
think any activity that can bridge this gap is a wonderful
something else, but I’m pretty lucky that this is what I
thing.
get to do.
We’re facing a huge natural crisis, such as from global
My advice to someone considering becoming a content
warming and melting of the ice caps, because we are fast
creator and/or social influencer is to remember that
becoming a world full of consumers. Taking time in
your online presence is not you, or is not the entirety of
nature helps you realise what’s important and the more
who you are.
mainstream activities like foraging and forest bathing
Don’t take things personally, and remember that you
become, the more we will begin to nurture the wild
are there to grow and to learn. You will always make
spaces around us and heal the planet in general.
mistakes and people will call you out on them, but that’s
In 2020, like most people running a business, I’ve found
okay! You’re only human.
lockdown to be the biggest challenge! Although it has
Also, it’s so very important to take a social media ‘detox’
given me some time to focus on producing online
now and then. It’s proven that social media isn’t good
content (which has been great) I can’t wait to get back
for your brain. Don’t make it your world, instead use it
out with my foraging groups. When I'm feeling the
as a tool. Make sure you have a life outside of social
pressure to produce high quality content regularly, I try
media which is infinitely more valuable to you than your
to remind myself that it’s what I’ve chosen to do. When
online life!
you start viewing what you’re doing as ‘work’, it can
23
Photos © Fern Freud
T
here are two things that make me feel really
wouldn’t be able to focus. He assured me that if he was
proud. One is when parents tell me they watch
being too disruptive, he would take him home.
my foraging videos with their kids and they
think that I am a good role model - so heartwarming!
“Now, I feel much more balanced. I take time to live slowly and tune into nature, but I’m also more focused and goal orientated which has allowed me to do what I love for a living.”
The second is when I feel a sense of community in my foraging groups. I love seeing a group go from a little gathering of strangers, feeling slightly awkward in each others company, to a happy community of foragers, sitting around the campfire, chatting about the things
Granted, the boy was pretty outrageous and loud but
they have learnt, sharing food and exchanging numbers.
my god, he was amazing at finding mushrooms! He
The support of my community and the support of my
spent the whole workshop diving under the thorniest
family and friends have been so important on my
thickets of brambles and returning with huge penny
journey. In the early days, my friends and my Mum
buns.
would come along to workshops and help me cook over
At the end of the mushroom hunt, just before we were
the fire for guests, which was the only reason the food
going to head back to camp and cook up our finds, he
wasn’t burnt to a crisp!
shouted ‘THERE’S ONE!’ and pointed at a prize oyster
My community has been beyond amazing too. I have
mushroom high up on the side of a beech tree, perfect
incredible people who attend workshop after workshop,
but surely unattainable. Before we knew it, he scaled the
who spread the word about my business and who allow
tree like an expert climber and threw the mushroom
me to use their land and advertising spaces because they
down to his Dad. He came down the tree to a huge cheer
love what I do. I have been incredibly privileged and am
from the group and added his prize to the basket (which
eternally grateful for all the support I’ve received.
was pretty much full of his finds). He was definitely the man of the hour and almost single-handedly fed a group
There’s one moment I quite often come back to. I had
of almost 12 adults!
a young man come along to a mushroom hunting workshop with his son a few years ago. The Dad looked
It was so special to see the Dads’ and the boys’ faces
pretty overwhelmed and tired and quietly took me aside
glowing with pride by the end of the workshop. They
before the workshop and apologised in advance for his
seemed a little closer. I had an email a few weeks
son's behaviour. He explained he had ADHD and
laterfrom the Dad, telling me that his son had asked to
26
go out mushrooms hunting again and he thought it
goals and habits and started getting into cold showers
would be their new favourite father-son activity.
and meditation. It was probably quite strange from my
I’ve had to change a fair bit since deciding I wanted to run my own business full time. I’m a firm believer that
friends and families perspective but it was really important for me.
a change in your situation has to start with a change in
Now, I feel much more balanced. I take time to live
your mindset. A few years ago I was pretty non-commit-
slowly and tune into nature, but I’m also more focused
tal, flaky and particularly bad at making myself do
and goal orientated which has allowed me to do what I
anything I didn’t want to do. I loved foraging but just
love for a living.
wouldn’t have been able to turn it into a viable business. I read a lot of self development books, worked on my
Fern Freud is a forager, wild-food enthusiast and content creator from Worthing, West Sussex. She shares her love of foraging, folklore, wild food and slow living through online content and realworld workshops that take place throughout Sussex and London. It’s her passion to connect people with the natural world around them, to their community and to a sense of deep fulfilment and stillness that can be found by spending time in nature. www.foragedbyfern.com Facebook.com/foragedbyfern Instagram @foraged.by.fern
27
Vlogging up Mountains.
THE PATH OF INSPIRATION: FROM NOVICE HIKER TO A MOUNTAIN A MONTH.
Words & photos by Grace Kelly
© Grace Kelly
H
i, my name’s Grace and I consider myself
spotted my mild distress earlier on and came back to
quite a keen adventurer, albeit a late
find me.
bloomer compared to many in the hiking
community. My first introduction to the mountains was in
“It’s a passion project that gives me a lot of enjoyment and sense of purpose and focus.”
December 2018, when in the midst of winter I climbed Snowdon via the Pyg Track. Having zero experience
Once I got home and recovered from the ordeal, I
or fitness to my name at that point, it was the hardest
downloaded my footage and realised I had a great
thing I had ever done. But despite the tears, pain and
story to tell, so I gave editing a go. I had MacBook Pro
panic, I was in awe of the views, the sense of peace and
for work so I taught myself the basics on iMovie and
freedom that a mountain brings, and the feeling of
created my first mountain vlog. The footage was
achievement and elation once I’d finished, that I
terribly shaky and my editing skills were questionable/
immediately wanted to do it all over again.
non-existent but I was proud and enjoyed having a
I focused 2019 on running and building up my fitness, as well as getting a few more mountains under my belt,
mini video of my day to look back on and share with my friends and family.
but 2020 was my real year of achievements when I set
It went down really well so I decided to invest in better
myself a challenge to climb a Mountain a Month.
equipment, create a YouTube channel and document
My first one was Cadair Idris in January, and that was to be my first solo mountain climb. I’ve always had an interest in photography, and so I took my camera along (a Sony a5100 at the time) and decided I’d document some of the day via photos and video, mainly for my own benefit and to possibly create a montage at the end of the year of my 12 mountains. I
all future hikes and mountain climbs. I bought a DJI Osmo Action Camera, choosing this over the Go Pro due to it having a front screen which helped me see what I was capturing when I was narrating to the camera. I also got a tripod, some other attachments and a subscription to MusicBed, and my videos have got better and better ever since.
wasn’t intending to start vlogging by any means. Being
I still have a long way to go but it’s a passion project
completely inexperienced at navigation, I got lost in
that gives me a lot of enjoyment and sense of purpose
the foggy weather conditions and ended up 10 miles
and focus. I’ve even been asked if my footage from a
from my car with an hour of daylight left, getting a lift
recent climb of Helvellyn can be used in an upcoming
back from two friendly mountain bikers who had
adventure-themed TV series, which is incredibly
exciting! I’m currently at 700 subscribers so my next goal is to reach 1000 and also to upskill into some better editing software so I can bring my visions and ideas to life better in future projects. I wasn’t brought up in an outdoorsy family – we were more into beach holidays than camping/hiking or ski trips – and prior to January 2020 I only had a handful of friends who were into the outdoors, meaning I did a lot of things solo and felt a sense of loneliness at not being able to share my passion with any close friends. Living in the midlands (arguably one of the flattest parts of the UK) meant I was hours away from any mountainous regions and the closest walks to me were the modest hills of the Cotswolds. However, I spotted an Instagram post advertising a group hike in the Peak District in December 2019, somewhere I’d never been - hosted by Yugen Explore, and (nervous as I was) I went along. It was an incredible turn-out. 62 people hiking an eight-mile loop of Mam Tor, having conversations about the benefits of the outdoors, listening to people’s experiences, getting tips on apps to download or inspirational accounts to follow and being invited on future adventures by total strangers. It opened my eyes to the possibilities and before I knew it I had so many plans with so many new hiking buddies that I was booked up for about six weeks straight. I completed challenges, such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks - finishing in 7hrs57, the Edale Skyline – a 25 mile walk through the Peak District, and
Photos © Grace Kelly
a 35mile walk of the Heart of England Way taking 13
Instagram offers. I love receiving messages from people
hours (that hurt) as well as many other mountains and
who just starting out on their journey into hiking or
hikes. I find myself continually wanting to push myself,
mountain climbing, asking ME for advice. As it doesn’t
live outside of my comfort zone and find new limits that
feel long since I was in that position myself, so being
I can break, as well as ticking off every hill/peak/moun-
able to offer advice or share routes or make suggestions
tain/summit that I can find.
to other people, and then see them experiencing great adventures themselves, brings me a lot of joy.
That group hike was the start of a new chapter for me, it’s something I look back on so fondly and although
“I’m proud that my videos and photos have given people inspiration for places to visit, or the nudge they’ve needed to go out and do that hike or climb that mountain.”
COVID has thwarted any plans for meet-ups in 2020, I can’t wait to attend more in 2021 and it’s the first thing I recommend to people who are just getting into hiking. One thing I never anticipated when getting into hiking and vlogging was the opportunities it would bring
Despite feeling much more experienced now, two years
through Instagram. I’ve always been an over-sharer, I
on from my first mountain, I’m very aware that I still
love sharing my photos and experiences and I’ve always
have a lot to learn in terms of safety and navigation.
had confidence in front of a camera. But since sharing
Even last month, on a solo hike of the Glyders, I
more of my adventures, my Instagram following has
dropped my phone down into a rock crevice and faced
grown rapidly and not only have I met so many
the realisation that if I didn’t get that back, I would be
amazing, adventurous, inspiring and talented people
route-less with no back-up map or compass.
through it, it has also resulted in me being sent various kit; everything from hiking boots, trail shoes, hiking kit,
Thankfully I did, but this experience made me realise I
jackets, hats, gloves, camping equipment and even ac-
need to brush up on map reading skills, and so I have a
commodation. Not only is it exciting to have opportun-
course booked in with Nav Trek to learn Navigation and
ities like that, but it’s also meant I’m much more
Mountain Safety skills, and a Hill Skills course coming
equipped for my adventures than I would have been –
up with Summit Fit. I’m keen to become as skilled as I
as I, like many, can’t always afford new hiking kit as the
can so that I can enjoy solo hikes safely, but also
seasons change. Another thing I wouldn’t have expected
confidently navigate when going on group hikes with
is such a kind and supportive community that
friends.
34
Having completed my Mountain a Month challenge
my confidence and happiness has grown since getting
throughout 2020, I’m looking ahead into the new year
into the outdoors; I truly believe that nature is the best
and seeing what challenges and adventures that may
medicine and I encourage as many people as I can to
bring.
experience it. I’m proud that my videos and photos have
Turning 30 in January, I’m considering a ’30 for 30’ challenge: ticking off 30 peaks throughout the year. I’m also planning more trips abroad to experience some
given people inspiration for places to visit, or the nudge they’ve needed to go out and do that hike or climb that mountain.
hikes and mountains around Europe and beyond, and I
I’m happy that they’ve shown people who need a bit
want to incorporate more wild swimming and trail
more confidence that solo hiking isn’t that scary really,
running too once the weather gets a little warmer, as
and that we all still make mistakes, but we learn from
well as some long-distance hikes and wild camps. I have
them. I’m looking forward to continuing to share my
so many video ideas to tie in with those plans, and I’m
experiences and adventures and to see what the future
looking forward to finally hitting 1000 subscribers on
holds for me.
YouTube. It’s amazing to look back and see how much
Grace Kelly is a passionate adventurer climbing a Mountain a Month in 2020 and conquering as many hills, hikes, peaks and summits as she can. The outdoors is her happy place and she documents her adventures on Instagram and YouTube, inspiring others to get out into nature and challenge themselves. Instagram @graces__adventures YouTube: Graces Adventures
35
COFFEE & KIT FOR WANDERERS & EXPLORERS. WWW.FIRESIDEBREW.CO @FIRESIDEBREWCO
Photo by Brad Carr // @bradcarrphotos
Finding your Calling. CREATING PURPOSE FROM PASSION.
Words & photos by Kate Booth
PART ONE
Become. “I was always searching forwhere I ‘belonged’. I realise now of course that I just needed the mountains and that sense of adventure.“
I
’ve been an adventurer my whole life. The majority
and that sense of adventure.
of my childhood was spent exploring North Wales
My Nain and Taid have played a huge part in inspiring
with my Nain and Taid. Most School holidays, I
the adventurous side of me, but I put a lot of it down to
was shipped off to the mountains to a little village
my independent nature too, there is a huge part of me
known as Trefriw where my Nain and Taid lived, it’s
that is always searching for that next big adventure.
situated just north of Betws-y-Coed; only now do I appreciate the true beauty of that place. Every day we
My parents have each had their own unique input on
would set off (myself and various other cousin
my adventurous side too, my dad is an avid scuba diver,
relations) in their old, burgundy camper van in search
I tried my hand at this when I was younger but again
of a new adventure.
my priorities were not aligned; I’m now deeply engrossed in the scuba world and am excited to see
During my mid to late teenage years, it’s safe to say my
where it takes me. My dad also had me marching up
priorities changed and the adventure lifestyle slipped
Mount Snowdon at the age of 14 in some of the worst
away from me, but I always felt like a part of me was
conditions I’ve ever explored in, the wind and snow was
missing. I never fitted in at school, I was bullied quite a
relentless, and the tears were streaming down my face.
lot, and I was always searching for where I ‘belonged’. I
I’ll never forget it.
realise now of course that I just needed the mountains
40
Photo by Brad Carr // @bradcarrphotos
© Kate Booth
My mum has had a bit more of a glamorous impact I’d say. She liked to take us on exotic and unique holidays when I was younger. I’m lucky to have explored the mesmerising city of Cairo and the great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, and I’m lucky to have wandered around the vast ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico, stared into The Blue Eye of Cape Verde and watched the Aurora dance across the Icelandic skies.
“Nothing beats first-hand experience and knowledge, taking it slow and building up the levels of difficulty in the adventures leads to a greater understanding.” There’s something inside of me that craves great adventures and the outdoors, and this craving is ever evolving as now I find myself drawn to new and slightly more dangerous challenges (sorry mumma). There are certain people in the adventure world that I look up to and inspire me to challenge myself more, the likes of Andy Torbet, Mollie Hughes and Nirmal Purja always blow me away with their ambition and achievements. Everything that I’ve learn so far is from personal experience and research, YouTube is extremely helpful in this area! There are definitely key safety measures that need to be in place for everyone (no matter their experience) at all times, however, each individual is different and has different limits that can only be discovered from experience. I think getting out and pushing myself has allowed me to know my limits and what gear I need for myself to be safe. Nothing beats first-hand experience and knowledge, taking it slow and building up the levels of difficulty in the adventures leads to a greater understanding; I know I have so much more to learn.
PART TWO
Capture. “Photography portrays the feelings that I felt in that moment to the observer and I think it’s the best way to share my adventures and really connect with the audience on an emotional level.”
E
verything I’ve learnt about photography has
shoving my camera in their faces.
come from my own different experiences and
Over time, as I have discovered my path in life, my
situations. I was born a photographer and I’ll
photography has evolved and adapted into what it is
die a photographer; it’s in my DNA.
today. I only really grab my camera now when I’m out
I got my first DSLR as a gift from my dad on my 16th
on my adventures; I like visually documenting my
birthday, I’m now 24 and I still haven’t put the camera
journey and discoveries.
down. I think my photography skills have become more
“The photography is important as it tells a story, my story.”
refined over the past couple of years through my adventures and meeting up with other photographers from the adventure community, everyone is so lovely,
To begin with, it was all about the photography, the aim
they want to share their skills and knowledge; this is
of every adventure was to get that shot; but now I use
how I’ve become much better at editing too.
my photography more to document my explores and
Photography is my one true love (along with drawing/
create branded content.
sketching), for as long as I can remember I have always
The photography is important as it tells a story, my
had a camera in my hand at any given opportunity. It
story. It portrays the feelings that I felt in that moment
was never just landscapes or adventure either, I would
to the observer and I think it’s the best way to share my
take photos of everything and anything, I would annoy
adventures and really connect with the audience on an
all my family members at gatherings and events by
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© Kate Booth
© Kate Booth
emotional level. I have to admit my camera gear isn’t the best. My trusty Canon 550D has been by my side for the past 8 years and been battered on many adventures! I’m not the best when it comes to camera knowledge either, I never studied photography so everything I know I have learnt whilst I’m out and about.
“Sometimes it really is all in the edit and finding your unique style that will stand out from the crowd.” However, I do know that the best lenses for myself as an ‘adventure photographer’ or ‘content creator’ are the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 and CANON EF-S 10−18 mm f/4.5−5.6, these have managed to capture every image I’ve needed when out exploring although I’m sure there are many other preferable lenses out there. Every day I open my Instagram to some sensational shots captured by some incredibly talented photographers, all shooting with their preferred gear and lenses that suit their adventures. I’d say find what works for you, it’s all trial and error, don’t expect to pick it all up straight away and have everything perfect. I would also advise downloading Adobe Lightroom and practising your editing skills. Sometimes it really is all in the edit and finding your unique style that will stand out from the crowd.
PART THREE
Brand. “You’re here for a reason, everyone has something unique to give so give this, be authentic and real. If you have the passion, motivation and can see a path then you can’t go wrong.”
K
ate Amanda Explores became a brand
to yourself, stay humble and always keep learning.
completely by accident. I’m learning every
“You don’t get to see the hard work involved behind an influencers’ profile unless they choose to show you.”
day and am so thankful for the opportunities
I have been given so far, I’m really enjoying the journey. I think the potential to build the brand full time is there, but I wouldn’t want this to be based purely off of
You’re here for a reason, everyone has something
services for other brands, don’t get me wrong I love col-
unique to give so give this, be authentic and real. If you
laborating with brands and producing content, but my
have the passion, motivation and can see a path then
real passion is exploration and making a real difference
you can’t go wrong. If you keep learning and never give
in the world through research … so I’d say, watch this
up then I promise you that you will absolutely achieve
space.
your dream.
As the career option of becoming an influencer brand
There will be a lot of setbacks and rejections, I’m sure
becomes more popular, I feel a lot of people could be in
there are many more for me to come, but if you practice
it for the wrong reasons. Make sure you’re not doing it
resilience and understand that you can’t have
for the ego, make sure you are passionate about your
everything then eventually you will learn that this is all
message or your product and ultimately be open to
a part of the journey. Don’t expect it to be easy, you
change and diversifying. The world is changing all the
don’t get to see the hard work involved behind an influ-
time and you need to keep up with this. Always be on
encers’ profile unless they choose to show you, you are
the look out for new opportunities and shoot your shot
seeing the product that they have worked hard to show
at the right time, but I’d say most importantly, stay true
you; that is the aim after all.
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Photo by Brad Carr // @bradcarrphotos
© Kate Booth
50
I am starting to get a firm plan in place to really align
it’s just for our own wellbeing!
my goals and objectives. I would love to continue collab-
collaboration forward throughout both our journeys.
“As a huge advocate for positive mental health, I think a connection with nature and the outdoors is paramount to living a healthy lifestyle.”
The future is looking really exciting now as I embark on
I’d say my biggest challenge at the moment is finding the
a new journey of research and discovery in the
time to do everything that I need and want to do in a
academic world, in the new year I will be starting a PhD
day. With my lifestyle, I find it very difficult to keep in
with research focused on the Brazilian Amazon. This is
touch with friends and family, and also to keep on top
a dream come true for me, real scientific exploration, I
of looking after myself. I often find myself quite sleep
never thought I would make it this far but I’m incredibly
deprived which doesn’t help with staying productive!
orating with adventurous brands but perhaps on a more personal level where we work together and carry the
excited to see what the future brings, who knows …
I think my biggest hurdle will be time management and
maybe I could write a book.
staying on top of my game. My priorities will have to
As a huge advocate for positive mental health, I think a
alter and I’ll have to create more fixed routines as I
connection with nature and the outdoors is paramount
juggle my career, research and adventure goals. It will
to living a healthy lifestyle. There are so many scientific
be hard to avoid that burn out phase, but I know if I stay
reports and findings out there that prove the positive
in the present moment and keep working, it will all
correlation between nature and mental health, it’s so
come together!
important that we look after our environment, even if
Kate Booth is a passionate adventurer and explorer based in the UK. Using a skillset that involves scrambling, climbing, scuba diving and hiking, she finds no limits to her adventures. Now ready to make her mark in the academic community, Kate is ready dive into the world of research as she takes on a PhD based in the Brazilian Amazon. Alongside exploring, Kate is a strong advocate for positive mental health as she shares her experiences, techniques and ways of thinking to help promotive a positive mindset. Instagram @kateamandaexplores
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Disconnect.
Reconnect. THROUGH THE LENS: NATURE’S POWER TO REPLENISH OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
Words & photos by James W. Fortune
A
s 2020 draws to a close, mental health is still something that we do not discuss enough. The impacts of it are so widespread, that the majority of people walking the earth either suffer from some form of mental health issue or know
somebody that does. I am proud to be one of those people that suffer/have suffered from mental health conditions for many years. I do not see it as a weakness anymore, nor a hindrance. I perceive the depression and anxiety as a crucial part of some of the most formative years of my life and am very aware that they have made me who I am today. Hopefully, that is a better person than when I first started to feel their impact.
“The most crucial element for my recovery was the concept of connection and connectivity.�
I will not go into the details of what impacted me, except to note that a few events in my life contributed to/created issues. These, in turn, have caused a series of issues, which shockingly enough, snowballed into more issues. That is how the cycle went for me. It was easy to lose all track of space, time and self. At my best, you would never know that there was anything wrong at all. At my worst, I was suicidal, a horrible person to be around (and still probably am at times) and could barely leave the house, never mind walk around the block. The thought of such a debilitating limitation alone is crippling, never mind the actuality of such a situation. I am so sad to say that I am not the only one that has suffered in this manner, often worse, although I wish I were. Clawing your way out is no picnic, once the mind is that overloaded, but it seems to have been just about doable for me so far. I have come to realise that the most crucial element for me and my recovery was the concept of connection and connectivity.
© James W. Fortune
Mental illnesses are inherently isolating and can leave
but I am not, not going to say it either. To me, there is
the sufferer feeling utterly disconnected and disenfran-
no doubt that the age of digital connectivity, ultimately,
chised from the world around them.
has had a negative impact on the brains of humanity.
To feel a connection with something beyond the
Once we strip our lives of the most disruptive elements
concept of self is a hard-fought battle. As a society, we
of technology, the answer is life itself! There is a whole
are intrinsically and perhaps now borderline innately
abundance of places, people, things for us to physically
disconnected from the physical world around us.
and mentally interact with, that are nowhere near as
This disconnect is a scary concept. People can easily walk miles without looking away from the screens of
draining as ten minutes of scrolling through your favourite social media site.
their smart devices, which have become an all-encom-
If we go back to our roots, before humans created the
passing piece of the human puzzle. That is not to say
concept of settlements, we were a part of nature: truly
that the technology that initially sought to enrich our
at one with the land, the sea and the air. Ultimately, the
lives has now totally poisoned the chalice, so to speak;
connections we had were with each other and with the
Photos Š James W. Fortune
Earth.
mechanism designed to protect us, just like anxiety.
Humanity has changed a lot since then, as has the world
Photography, as well as other forms of artistic
around us. We are more distracted: our lives disrupted
expression, allows us to overcome this innate
by vibrations from notifications, the illumination of our
mechanism by providing an active means for the mind
screens and that endorphin hit from a like.
to search for a fresh interpretation of our surroundings: something that we can connect with on a mental level. It is an ideal method of doing so because modern
“Photography and other forms of artistic expression allow the mind to search for a fresh interpretation of our surroundings.�
technology has allowed so many of us to have increasingly powerful cameras at our fingertips, via our smartphones and tablets. You see, it is not all bad!
So where could you start? For me, it began by properly
I have practised photography for probably around 16
trying to take note of the world around me once again
years now. I studied the subjects at college and
and also turning off notifications on my devices so that
university from 2008 to 2012, taking the plunge into
I was not getting buzzed while I was trying to focus.
full-time self-employment as a photographer in a period
Once you create the opportunity to be able to stop and
that I now know was in the deep end of my own mental
see what is around you, you can start connecting to
health crisis. It might seem a ridiculous time to start my
your environment once more.
own business. I believe that there may have been better times in my life to have undertaken self-employment,
We overlook the every day, not necessarily by choice,
but at the same time I know that there could have been
but because our mind selectively focuses on new
worse times too. What if I have started my career as a
elements in our surroundings and greys out what it
photographer and then gone through my crisis? It may
already knows to exist. This function is to attempt to
not have recovered. What if I had waited until I was
prevent us from getting eaten by lions or dinosaurs.
better? The day might have never come, or it may have
Well, maybe not so much these days in the wilds of
been too late for me.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but you get my drift. It is a safety
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59
© James W. Fortune
“Find yourself explor
world around you in
intricate detail.�
ing the
n more
”
© James W. Fortune
What ended up happening was a slow grind from the
then some. For me, it is more about interpreting
worst point in my life to being roughly on track to
what is laid before me, creating a tangible emotional
making ends meet as a self-employed creative, by
connection that others can perceive and perhaps
one means or another.
benefit from through their senses.
“I now utilise landscape photography as my perfect excuse to get outside and escape the shackles of modern living.”
I think this is perhaps where the magic of
My business now sees me shooting everything from
you combine photography with the outdoors, it is
headshots and PR, to commercial interiors and
difficult not to find yourself exploring the world
shooting
landscape
around you in more intricate detail; reconnecting to
photography that I print and sell as limited editions,
the world around you. Spending time outdoors, in
while working on TV ads and film sets. I even created
nature, is not only benefit people that have
my own magazine and occasionally take on other
experienced or are experiencing mental health
creative projects for businesses. It is crazy to think
issues. Humanity was, and still should be an outdoor
about how varied my life is now!
species. The concept of staying indoors is almost
events, while
producing
photography lies. Photography is a vessel to observe the world in a way that life, and maybe even our genetic structure, may prohibit us from doing so. If
entirely a human creation. We are not supposed to
As a photographer, my attempts to recover and
be stuck inside.
disconnect from the damaging elements of technology took me back outdoors. I have enjoyed
With our lives busier than they ever have been, if you
creating the odd landscape photograph while I was
do not take the time to reconnect with the outdoors,
away on a trip, for as long as I have owned a camera.
you will not get the chance.
I now utilise landscape photography as my perfect
Only you can make it happen. Why not schedule
excuse to get outside and escape the shackles of
some time to go for a walk in nature, switch your
modern living.
phone to aeroplane mode and see what you can
For many photographers and artists, it’s not about
notice in the world around you.
capturing the very best that a particular scene can
The time to reconnect is now!
offer, but I can only speak for myself. You are not only recording a moment in time, or photographing the apparent unwavering resilience of the natural world, but perhaps a combination of the two; and
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63
Forged by Fire. BUILDING A BRAND IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY.
Words & photos by Richard Potts
T
imes of great adversity are often times of great creativity. Entrepreneurship flourishes in recessions. Household name brands like WhatsApp, Uber and Airbnb all started their journey in the last big crash, the ‘credit crunch’ of 2008. And it’s not just startup businesses that enjoy adversity; character building relies on difficulty too. Climbing a mountain on a balmy summer’s day might be physically testing, but it’s not enough to trigger our latent potential for greatness. Throw in a sudden worsening of weather, threat of hypothermia and getting lost in fog and it becomes a different challenge entirely. It’s only through adversity that we truly discover ourselves and our true character manifests. Examples of how adversity shapes us and the brands we create are easy to find, so I won’t go into them here. Rather, I want to explore howwe can harness this trend to push ourselves and our creative minds, in what is probably the most testing time in living memory.
Photo from Fireside Summit 2019
66
Through darkness to the edge of night.
O
ne of the oldest and most powerful parts of
something adventurous outdoors.
the human brain is the bit that deals with
Our fight or flight response was honed over millennia
threat response. Sometimes referred to as
when we humans were one of the weaker species
the ‘lizard brain’ or limbic system, or to give it its proper
roaming Earth. We had plenty of predators in the past,
moniker the ‘sympathetic autonomic nervous system’.
we weren’t the apex animal we are today. Charged by a
Most of us simply know it as the flight or fight response.
Woolly Mammoth, fight or flight would flood our bodies with adrenaline and make us temporarily capable of
“When it comes to starting a business venture, fight or flight is the enemy of success.”
doing exceptional things, like running away really, really quickly. When it comes to starting a business venture though,
At times during the last year, faced with a barrage of
fight or flight is the enemy of success. Creativity needs
media messages about threats to our health and
a different state of mind to flourish, as does planning
economy, we’ve probably all experienced the kick
and effective implementation of a good idea. Being put
response of flight or fight. We can see this played out
in danger, dealing with big problems, staring into the
across social media too, as people start taking sides to
abyss of financial ruin … these immense triggers that
downplay the threat (flight response) or defy the
kick our fight or flight response into overdrive can
government in various ways (fight response). The fight
create flashes of genius. We see glimpses of a way out
or flight response we all feel from time to time can make
of a situation, but at best these are coin-flip odds of
our minds race. How many of us have felt that
being the RIGHT choice. Given that most businesses fail
compulsion to DO SOMETHING over the last 12
in the first 5 years, we need to stack those odds in our
months? It may be a change of career or relationship,
favour as much as possible.
take up a new hobby or a sudden irresistible urge to do
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I use the fight or flight response to know WHEN
may be sleeping on that sudden decision to quit your job
something needs addressing. It’s an incredibly useful
and start a new business!
tool for an entrepreneur because it’s almost like a sixth sense; it’s the hackles rising at the back of your neck to tell you something is amiss in the world. So my advice is to let it flow. Ride the feeling of wanting to act but stay in control and avoid reacting straight away. The mechanics of this will vary depending on the situation. It may be stopping yourself immediately replying to an email or social comment that’s got you fired up, or it
The important thing is you don’t allow fight or flight to take over your rational decision making. Knowing what’s going on in our minds and bodies when we’re feeling under threat, is the first step in harnessing our full potential.
Photo of the author at Fireside Summit 2019
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One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
N
ature is incredibly powerful in helping us
those emotions and start to use your incredibly
find a state of equilibrium that’s conducive
powerful rational mind to work out your way ahead. If
to good, creative decision making. Nature is
you’ve realised you hate your current career or faced
the perfect partner if you’re thinking of starting your
the horror of having your choice rescinded through
own business. Time spent outdoors forces us to change
redundancy, you might feel like you’re in freefall. Take
our pace, become aware of our surroundings and ‘get
a walk, breath fresh air, spend time with mud beneath
out of our own heads’. It’s also been proven that natural
your boots, and start to plan.
movement like walking and running helps us think
My own recent experience of this was the formation of
creatively – something that renowned pacers like Bill
our new coffee company, Fireside Brew Co, which I
Gates and Mark Zuckerberg fully embrace.
created and launched in the space of a week during Lockdown #1 in March 2020. My incumbent business,
“Take a walk, breath fresh air, spend time with mud beneath your boots, and start to plan.”
which I built from scratch in 2015 and suffered all the pain of a bootstrapped startup experience ever since, came crashing to a halt with Covid−19.
So if you’re feeling stressed, panicked or threatened,
My business was events. The first signs of trouble were
and your mind is racing with whacky ideas then going
back in February 2020 when Europe’s largest tech
for a walk really is the best thing you can do. What’s
trade show, Mobile World Congress, cancelled just 10
actually happening here is your brain is shifting its
days from launch. In events, this sort of last-minute can-
chemical composition from the fight or flight zone to
cellation of a billion dollar show is unheard of and
the rational zone (the ‘parasympathetic autonomic
absolutely catastrophic for the event organisers,
nervous system’ to be exact). Getting wound up is a
exhibitors and region in which it is being held.
great trigger for action, but you want to grab hold of
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I remember thinking it should have been headline news on the BBC at the time, but instead the story was buried in obscure trade show media outlets and details were
accordingly. This is an example of fight or flight on a massive scale.
scarce. I delved deeper and uncovered the truth: the
In 2008 when the banks woke up to their self-made
trade show sponsors, all of which came from or relied
exposure to enormous volumes of bad debt and
on supply chains from Asia, had pulled out because of
stopped lending to each other, only a few savvy
the virus. The big businesses simply knew what was
observers realised the implications. Their hackles went
coming for Europe and reacted to protect themselves
up. They knew
Š Fireside Brew Co
something big was lurking in the shadows of all the major cities in the world. Their fight or flight response gave way to rational analysis, and suddenly the horror of the fiscal beast was revealed to them and eventually the whole world.
“Humans have an almost limitless capacity to think their way out of any problem, given enough incentive and with time to compose rational thoughts.” As startup business leaders, present or future, it’s incumbent on all of us to be attuned to economic threats and act with deliberate determination to avoid falling victim. Your creative mind is your greatest ally in economic survival. Humans have an almost limitless capacity to think their way out of any problem, given enough incentive and with time to compose rational thoughts. That idea that you can almost see in the corner of your eye, that half formed thought that you need to be doing something else with your life, that inexplicable search of social media for inspiration – these deserve your time more than you may realise. ‘Fresh air and fresh ideas’ was the tagline of my last (rather great!) event; Fireside Summit. Since we can’t congregate in person now, that idea had to give way to a new one that would encourage the same ethos of time spent in nature, breathing life into your brand. So, although the formation of Fireside Brew Co may look like a spontaneous act made under pressure, a true fight or flight response, it was actually the result of years of rational thinking, predated by earlier iterations of the same concept and forged by many campfires. Time spent in nature is never wasted, and it may just help you build something worthwhile.
Š Fireside Summit
Bound upon a wheel of fire.
S
tarting a business is hard. Quite possibly the
keep you going over the long term.
hardest thing you can ever do. But like all hard things done well, it’s incredibly rewarding. As
“Cold passion is like a simmering excitement that makes you want to work on your brand every day (even Mondays). It’s a steady state, with heart and brain working together. .”
we’ve discussed, our best selves and most creative ideas are often forged in the fires of adversity. Sometimes that adversity is foisted upon us, like when a novel virus tears through society and our way of life is razed to the ground. But for entrepreneurs there’s always another
Passion is the only true fuel for the endless journey of
powerful force driving us: passion. No great brand was
building your brand. But there are two types of passion:
ever created without passion.
hot and cold.
“Passion is the only true fuel for the endless journey of building your brand.”
Hot passion is easy to understand – it’s the fired-up enthusiasm you feel about a new idea (or person!). It’s pure, unfiltered, excitement. It’s heart, not head.
Being forced into starting a business through a sudden,
Cold passion is something of an oxymoron, but really
dramatic change in circumstance like losing your job,
it’s like a simmering excitement that makes you want to
might be enough to get started but it won’t sustain you
work on your brand every day (even Mondays). It’s a
or your brand in the long term. Equally, a competitive
steady state, with heart and brain working together.
or combative temperament might be enough to keep A successful, long-term brand is fuelled by cold passion.
you motivated at first, but when you realise there’s no finish line and no summit, these emotional states won’t
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You’ll notice a similarity here between the states of mind mentioned earlier – fight or flight and rational. Hot passion does indeed trigger a similar response to facing a threat; essentially over excitement about a new idea puts you into the same mind frame as being
charged by a Woolly Mammoth. The difference is that passion isn’t just a state of mind, it’s a state of BEING. When you’re truly passionate about something you’ll not only love doing the thing itself, but you’ll enjoy thinking about it too. It’ll set up camp in your soul.
© Fireside Brew Co
Fireside as a brand came after more than a decade
getting fired up about something and thinking about
working for other people, building other people’s
how you could make a living from it (but probably
dreams and convincing myself that it was enough to do
talking yourself out of it too!), then I’d say you’ve got
a good job well, even if I wasn’t passionate about the
the entrepreneur gene.
industry I was in. It wasn’t enough. It still isn’t.
My top tip to anyone searching for a way to turn their
Passion gives us purpose and meaning. It gives us
passion into their purpose and into their career is to
motivation through the good times and the bad. Under-
THINK and DO. Spend as much time as possible doing
standing what you’re truly passionate about is the first,
the things you love, and even more time thinking about
and most vital, step in building a brand that matters. I’ve
them. Work the idea, immerse yourself in it, but also
always been passionate about the great outdoors. I’m
allow time to let it infuse and take shape. Don’t let it go,
also genuinely passionate about business.
but don’t let it take control of you either. To have agency over your brand you must first own your ideas and not
These two things are often seen as contradictory –
let hot passion or fear take over your thinking.
nature people and business people are very different, aren’t they? Well entrepreneurs are an odd bunch.
I’ll talk more about the brand journey, especially about
We’re often replete with contradictions and strange
building an eco-friendly business, in future issues of
character traits. So if that’s you, if you feel conflicted in
FiresideX. In the meantime, stay safe, look out for each
your ambition or career choice, if you find yourself
other and remember that you can achieve great things through adversity.
Rich Potts is a lifelong country-boy, bushcrafter and outdoor pursuits enthusiast with an unquenchable curiosity for the natural world. Having made a career in digital publishing and launched a media company of his own, Rich has committed himself to the entrepreneurial journey and is determined to prove that business can be environmentally sustainable and socially progressive. For the last two years Rich has been building the Fireside brand, comprising events, this magazine and a coffee company for outdoorsy creators and adventurers. Instagram @firesidebrewco
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© Dan Johnson // @dan___johnson
THE MAGAZINE FOR CREATORS & BRANDS
Photo © Lee Cooper // @leecooperphotography
VOL.2 | JANUARY 2021 | FIRESIDEX.COM