Tina Welling is a local author who has been living in Jackson for 40 years. In this episode, she shares her journey of moving to Wyoming with her family from Ohio to be closer to nature and to become part of a tight-knit community. Tina talks about her experience running a gift shop in Snow King Resort for 25 years and how the off-seasons provided her with time to focus on her writing.
During the conversation, Tina discusses the sense of community she found in Jackson and how it influenced her writing. She describes her transition from writing novels to nonfiction and specifically mentions her book, ‘Writing Wild,’ which explores the connection between the natural world and personal creativity. Stephan asks Tina about her writing workshops with inmates at the Teton County Jail, and she shares her experiences and the insights she gained from working with them. Tina emphasizes the shared struggles between inmates and those on the outside, highlighting the importance of self-reflection and journaling as tools for self-discovery and personal growth.
The conversation also touches on Tina’s most recent book, ‘Tuesdays In Jail: What I Learned Teaching Journaling to Inmates.’ She explains how journaling can help individuals work through their issues and gain self-knowledge. Tina mentions that while she hasn’t focused much on promoting her book due to personal circumstances, she is grateful for winning the Nautilus Book Award in the memoir and personal journey category.
Tracey Garcia is a mom, entrepreneur, and a make-up artist. Growing up in a military family, Tracey’s life has been filled with travel and remarkable encounters with individuals from all walks of life. She has worked behind the scenes in the television industry, providing hair and makeup services for various shows. Additionally, Tracey has had the opportunity to work with influential figures in the political arena, contributing her craft as a make-up artist.
In this episode, Tracey shares anecdotes from her time working on television sets and emphasizes the importance of remaining neutral as an artist, regardless of the political affiliations of her clients. She highlights the ordinary nature of these public figures, revealing that they have lives outside the media spotlight.
The conversation then shifts to Tracey’s current work in Jackson Hole, where she has found success in focusing on weddings and photo shoots. She discusses the importance of self-promotion and reinvention in her industry, highlighting the abundance of opportunities available in the area.
Isaac Hayden is a singer, songwriter, husband and handyman. From his humble beginnings as a preacher’s son on the San Juan Islands and in Jackson Hole, to his emergence as a rising star in the vibrant music scene of Nashville, Isaac’s trajectory is one of passion, perseverance, and artistic growth.
In this episode, Isaac takes us on a journey through his life, starting with his childhood in Sacramento, California, before moving to the picturesque San Juan Islands. He shares how his father’s job as an assistant preacher led their family to Jackson Hole, where they played a crucial role in starting the first Presbyterian church in town.
Growing up as a preacher’s son in a tight-knit community had its perks. Isaac reminisces about the supportive church community and the joy of playing the piano in the church auditorium. Music played a significant role in Isaac’s life, leading him to explore different places such as Spokane, Southern California, Tallahassee, and Nashville.
Jocelyn Stokes is a passionate conservationist and filmmaker focused on documenting and sharing the importance of wildlife conservation and the success stories that inspire and educate people about protecting the natural world. Growing up in the Arizona desert, Stokes developed an early interest in wildlife and animal behavior. She has traveled around the world to document the impact of conservation efforts on various ecosystems, including Nepal’s success in tripling its tiger population in the past ten years and seeing a significant increase in their one-horned rhinoceros population since 2010.
Stephan and Jocelyn also discussed her upcoming documentary series, “Her Wild Life,” which focuses on women-led wildlife conservation solutions worldwide, showcasing the incredible stories of real-life legendary women working to protect endangered species and wild places. She talked about the importance of educating visitors about wildlife behavior and safety protocols, as well as finding a balance between human expansion and respecting our wild spaces.
Jocelyn Stokes’ work serves as an inspiring and educational reminder of the importance of protecting our natural world, and she hopes to inspire a new generation of conservationists dedicated to preserving our planet’s incredible biodiversity. To learn more about her work and upcoming documentary, you can follow her on Instagram at @wildandstoked or visit her website, jocelynstokes.com.
Shari Brownfield is a fine art advisor, appraiser, and owner of Shari Brownfield Fine Art. Shari was born in Montreal and grew up there and in Israel. She went on to study fine art at Concordia University and double majored in art history and studio art. Shari has worked her way through every level of the art world and now has her own project space and office inside the famed “Wort Cabin” just off the town sq in Jackson.
In this episode, Shari shares her family’s fascinating history and why she left life in the city to move out to Jackson over 20 years ago. Shari and Stephan also discuss changing career paths, the fine art industry, why people buy and collect art, what gives Art value, and the importance of maintaining a good reputation.
Lynsey Dyer is a freestyle skier, artist, filmmaker, entrepreneur, activist, podcaster, and a new mom. Lynsey is the founder of the movie production and apparel company Unicorn Picnic and co-founder of SheJumps.org.
In this episode, Lynsey shares how her cousin (A.J. Cargill) was a big influence in helping her make the move to Jackson from Sun Valley, ID. She talks about her early days of living in the Hole, working at D.O.G., and getting her start with Teton Gravity Research. Stephan and Lynsey chat about some of the impactful organizations she has helped create and her latest project that involves local wildlife. They then discuss sponsorships, parenthood, the changing pro athlete industry, and what is in store next for Lynsey.
Peter Chandler is a singer, songwriter, teacher, minister and bandleader. In 1978, Peter left Maine to move out to Jackson to pursue the ski bum lifestyle. He is a man of many talents and monikers. While you may not recognize the name Peter Chandler, you’ve probably heard of Chanman, Papa Chan or Polka Peter.
In this episode, Peter talks about why he started making music. He goes into what it was like living like a ski bum in Jackson Hole in the 70s. Peter shares his beliefs and why he chose to live by the Rastafarian philosophy. Stephan and Peter then talk about his different monikers and how he can change his persona based on the genre and location of where he is performing.
What do you think is the coldest recorded temperature the Tram Jam has played in? Find out toward the end of Stephan and Peter’s chat to find out.
Ryan Stolp is the creator of the Lift Lines comic and co-founder of Orijin Media, a full service marketing agency.
Ryan’s career path has been anything but ordinary. His CV titles could include dog sled guide, Wilderness ranger, alpine hammock creator, illustrator, author and entrepreneur. Ryan recently collaborated with Sam Morse on a new graphic novel called The Ski Town Fairytale. He’s also been exploring the fringes of doodling and drawing tech by live animating groovy musical performances at Eleanor’s.
Brian was born and raised in Jackson. His father owned a pharmacy and his mother ran a Montessori school for many years. He is now raising his own family in the valley and works as an engineer for the town of Jackson. When he isn’t working to help Jackson’s infrastructure he is helping make people laugh. Brian is a founding member of Laff Staff – Jackson’s resident improv group.
Babs is the long-time Artistic Director of Dancers’ Workshop and Erin Roy recently stepped up as the Executive Director. Dancer’s Workshop is located in the Center for the Arts and provides diversity in movement experiences through education, performance, and outreach for students and audiences of all ages.
In this episode, Babs and Erin share their stories about how they ended up making it out to Jackson. Babs talks about the potential she saw in Dancers’ Workshop and how she has transformed the organization over the past 24 years. Erin discusses what it has been like to step up into a leadership role and how having a mentor like Babs has impacted her vision. Babs and Erin also talk about the outreach Dancers’ Workshop has, not only in the Jackson Hole area but the surrounding Wyoming communities.