Meet Meg Carney | Writer and Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meg Carney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meg, how do you think about risk?
Working in the outdoor industry for most of my professional life and spending almost all of my free time outdoors, I’ve taken a lot of risks. There’s the inherent risk in some of the activities I do, like rock climbing, but there are also risks in putting your name on an article byline or starting a podcast from scratch. An important distinction is that most risks I’ve taken are either necessary in the moment or reasonably calculated. I’m not just taking risks for the sake of it or the thrill. To me, taking risks is tied to putting yourself out there and not being afraid to fail, being rejected, or looking silly simply because you decided to try. I am the type of person that, once I set my mind on something or have an idea, I will find a way to do it. In some cases, it has taken years for ideas to come to fruition, so with taking risks comes a lot of patience and planning sometimes. If I don’t achieve it the first go around, that’s fine! I likely learned something valuable, periodically setting me on an even better path forward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Getting to where I am today has been a bit of a grind. Since I left my random array of jobs in the outdoor industry several years ago to be a full-time freelance writer, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges. First, I had to build up my portfolio from nothing and make a name for myself in a seemingly over-saturated industry. Luckily, I could take from my experiences, find a niche that fits me, and build a network within the industry that not only built my portfolio but landed me a book deal. That’s not to say it all happened easily. I have become accustomed to being rejected and working long hours on projects that others may never see. All of those ventures led somewhere, though, and I’m proud of the book I’ve written and the partner podcast and brand I’ve built. They revolve around topics I am madly passionate about and feel are a necessary step in the right direction within the outdoor industry. The podcast is based on the concepts in my book, “Outdoor Minimalist: Waste Less Hiking, Camping, and Backpacking.” The mission of both the book and the podcast is to raise awareness that leads to tangible action in the outdoor industry for both consumers and producers. I believe the outdoor industry has more responsibility than any other sector of society to be good stewards of the earth and protect and preserve the environments we enjoy. The book can be seen as an in-depth “how-to” handbook, and the podcast is meant to expand on ideas and bring other experts into the conversation.

I am still growing and learning as a writer, podcaster, and creator, and the most rewarding thing about all of this is the people I’ve met along the way. I’ve had the opportunity to interview and cultivate relationships with so many influential individuals that all have their passions and visions they’re pursuing in life. I simply feel proud that they’ve entrusted me to help tell their stories.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I don’t live in Phoenix anymore, but when I did live in that area, I enjoyed the Thunderbird Conservation Park and sections of the Arizona Trail. I honestly spent a lot of time outside the city so don’t have any favorite places to go in town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people have helped me in my book writing process, a career as a writer, and now as a podcast host and content creator. One of my most significant supports is my dog, Ash. He comes with am on most of my outdoor adventures and has inspired me so much over the last seven years since I adopted him. He’s even featured on the cover of my book! Beyond him, countless individuals in the outdoor industry, including Steve Jewett, Mary Swanson, Rudy Glocker, and Steven Sashen, have believed in me and the Outdoor Minimalist mission since the very beginning. In the last few years, they’ve provided excellent advice and general support through the writing and production process. My best friend and primary backpacking partner, Caitlin Vander Wal, have listened to me scheming and dreaming on every one of our expeditions together. She’s an excellent sounding board and someone I can always trust to tell me the truth. And, of course, I can’t forget my incredible team behind the scenes of audio and video editing! My brother, Alex Carney, joined me after I’d published about 30 podcast episodes as the audio editor, and a family friend, Ethan Weise, was added in January of 2023 to help launch a YouTube channel and start a production company.

Website: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megcarney/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outdoor.minimalist.book

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist

Other: https://bookshop.org/p/books/outdoor-minimalist-waste-less-hiking-backpacking-and-camping-meg-carney/16777548?ean=9781493063994 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outdoor-minimalist/id1586174667

Image Credits
First photo of me with my dogs: photo credit to Ethan Wiese