Ep 39 / Parenting: Disaster Style with Zoe Hart
The mountain guide and mother talks about the overlap between her days as an alpinist and her role as a mother.
“As long as you’re not going to die, suffering ends. It’s the same with kids” - Zoe Hart (Instagram)
As a soon-to-be first time parent, I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking about what kind of parent I want to be. I spent a ton of time considering if it was even responsible to have a kid these days, so now that I decided to give it a go, I want to make sure my child is equipped to live on the planet we’ll leave them.
My first instinct when trying to learn about new topic is to get a few books.
I picked up Jon Kabat Zinn’s “Everyday Blessings” to understand how I could bring my mindfulness practice to parenting. I figure the very least I can do is be aware myself to help them cultivate their own identity and sense of awareness.
Then owing to my interest in Scandinavian culture generally (which shouldn’t be surprising given how these countries balance strong economies with sustainable practices and still manage to end up near the top of the happiness table), I found
’s “There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather”. Linda offers great insight into a nature-based parenting approach from her childhood in Sweden and raising her own kids in Indiana. (Make sure to check out her Substack, .)While I enjoyed both of these books, I have to admit I’m intrigued and impressed by Zoe Hart’s approach.
Pulled from the vocabulary of climbers, “disaster style” is about giving it everything you’ve got. It’s hard, messy and adventurous with some risk in pursuit of big rewards. As a mountain guide and mother, Zoe asks what it would be like to bring that approach to the world of parenting, where risk looks more like a 25 hour flight with child that’s only a handful of months old than climbing a high grade pitch in nasty weather.
Hearing about her rapidly growing kids though, I am thinking the risk is more than worth the reward.
Exposing her kids to nature and adventure early on has resulted in two kids that have their own unique connection with nature, understand the pitfalls of unnecessary consumption, and a self confidence that I rarely hear about from other parents. Best of all, it hasn’t taken away an ounce of Zoe and her husband’s own adventurous spirit and development. Both are learning how to skateboard in their mid-forties. There’s also a classic Yvon Chouinard story involving Zoe and one of her sons in the episode that I hadn’t heard yet (and I’ve heard more than most), so make sure to listen to the full episode.
After you listen to the episode, make sure to head to Patagonia’s YouTube channel, where you can watch the first of a three episode film series “Parenting: Disaster Style” that the company made of Zoe and her family.
Even if you’re not a parent, I think you’ll find the episode funny and inspiring. The future is in good hands.
Thanks for listening -
Rick
Watch/Listen to the Episode
What We’re Reading
"Finding Refuge" by Zoe Hart for YETI - This week’s podcast guest wrote this amazing piece for YETI. This pieces gives you more insight into the idea of “Parenting: Disaster Style”.
“Nature Is Gay as Fuck, and So Are We” Interview with Pattie Gonia in Harpers Bazaar - Back in 2020, while I was living lockdown London, I conducted an interview with Pattie over text messages and voice notes for a report I contributed to on brand activism for the Cannes Lions festival of creativity. The platform Pattie has built is incredible.
“Coastal Style: John Moore, Creative Director Of Outerknown” in Surfer - One of our first podcast guests John Moore talks about making things with great intent and purpose.
Vienna and Copenhagen Provide Models for Climate Adaptation - NPR highlighted efforts in two European cities to adapt to climate change. Vienna’s government is building efficient (and pretty attractive) social housing integrated eco-friendly features at affordable rates. Copenhagen is building water-absorbing parks and rain tunnels to adapt to an expected 30% increase in rainfall.