Let's kick off 2025 with this joyful conversation with an old pod friend, Caitlin Hopkins!

I first introduced you to Caitlin as one of the Two Maine Mermaids, way back in May 2021. At the time, Caitlin (aka Flow) and Kelsy Hartley (aka Ebb) were spreading the gospel of cold water dipping, which they’d started in earnest at the beginning of the pandemic. Since then, they’ve built a large and dedicated community around them in Portland with their dips, fun events and what’s become a total freaking movement, their International Women’s Day celebration held every March at Willard Beach in South Portland.

We’re going to talk about cold water again today, but for a very different reason - Caitlin is preparing to travel to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco next month to compete in the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) World Championship!!!

So we are talking about ice swimming, of course, but also oyster farming, lightning bolts, creativity, entrepreneurship, mentorship, joy, intention, alignment…. Caitlin has inspired some new thinking in me for 2025, and I know you’ll get something out of this too.

Give Caitlin a follow in one of her many places:

• @caitlin_virginia
• @twomainemermaids - www.twomainemermaids.com
• @cascobaycuties
• @evenkeelcardco - www.evenkeelco.com

And of course, I hope you'll join me in supporting Caitlin's World Championship effort on February 8th:
www.spotfundme.com/MaineToMoroccoIceSwim

Finally, it wouldn't be a GGW pod without a few more fun links from our conversation:

• International Ice Swimming Association (IISA)
• Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival (VT)
• Coelle Travel
• Peaks to Portland Swim for Kids (ME)
• Alcatraz Open Swim (CA)
• Tri for a Cure (ME)

Happy New Year! Let me know what you thought of the episode, or let me know who else you'd like to hear from on the pod in 2025!!:

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A few weeks ago I was fortunate to attend the Maine Outdoor Economy Summit that was held at Sunday River, and not only did I run into SOOO MANY of my favorite pod people, I also had the opportunity to finally corral a guest I’d had on my wish list for a while - because celebrity fly tyer Selene Frohmberg, aka Selene of Maine, owner of Selene’s Fly Shop in Gardiner, Maine, led two special add-on sessions at the Summit, and was nice enough to sit down with me for a chat at Evans Notch Lodge before she left town.

So we’re celebrating Women-Led Wednesday and Small Business Saturday a little early this year! Selene and I talk about her fishing, tying and guiding origin stories, entrepreneurship and entomology, floods and flies - and best of all, she shares some awesome tips and gift ideas for the wanna be fly fisherperson on your list, even if that person is YOU.

Head on over to SelenesFlyShop.com to check out the huge variety of supplies, equipment, events and experiences that Selene has curated for us all, and make sure to follow Selene’s Fly Shop on all the socials as well.

And speaking of socials, I hope you’ll come on over to the Guides Gone Wild Instagram or Facebook accounts this week, I'll be fast-tracking you to hours of inspiring content to fuel your long drives and cooking marathons this long holiday weekend!

Whether you’re spending some special time with family or framily, I hope you get plenty of fresh air and take advantage of every opportunity to get a little wild this week!

Selene’s Fly Shop: https://www.selenesflyshop.com/

Selene of Maine: https://seleneofmaine.com/

@SelenesFlyShop: https://www.instagram.com/selenesflyshop

https://www.facebook.com/seleneofmaineflytyer

Links to fishy fun and more!:

• ‘Lefty’ Kreh
• Casting for Recovery
• Carrie Stevens
• Grey Ghost
• Dave Whitlock
• Gardiner Main Street
• Dette Flies (NY)
• Johnson Hall Opera House
• Trout Unlimited
• Echo Lift Kit
• Miss Mayfly
• Poly leader
• Angler's Entomology Podcast
• Sign up for Selene’s email newsletter here to keep on t

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Genuine Climbing: https://genuineclimbing.org/

Support climbing retreats for breast cancer survivors!: https://genuineclimbing.org/donate/

Join Anyssa & Moira at Climb for a Cause, October 23rd from 3-9pm at GOAT Climbing Gym, Hackensack, NJ

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, today I’m talking to my long-time pod friend Anyssa Lucena of Genuine Climbing, as well as Dr. Moira Christoudias, a breast surgical oncologist with Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care in Paramus NJ.

Anyssa and Moira have joined me today to talk all about their amazing new initiative, Genuine Climbing.org, which will be providing FREE climbing experiences to women affected by breast cancer.

Genuine Climbing's mission is hugely personal for both of these women, as you’ll hear - as Anyssa writes on the website, the lump she felt became the seed for this vision. And now that vision has turned into lots and lots of action - as of early fall 2024, they’ve achieved non-profit status for Genuine Climbing, they’ve got all their ducks in a row, and are now accepting applications for the three amazing climbing retreat events they’ve got confirmed on their calendar already for 2025. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this wonderful organization, the link to donate or volunteer is above - get on it!!

Even if you’re not a climber, you’ll want to listen in today - Dr. Christoudias drops more than a few truth bombs and dispels many myths about breast cancer risk. One in eight (!!) women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Let’s all educate ourselves on our risks, encourage our friends and family to do the same, and do everything we can to detect it as early as possible!!

A few more links for you:

• Anyssa's first appearance on Guides Gone Wild
• Anyssa updates Guides Gone Wild on her diagnosis and first Climb for a Cause fundraiser
• Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care (NJ)
• GOAT Climbing Gym (NJ)
• Casting for Recovery

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