Episode 97: Finding Common Ground in the Mountains: Outlier with Dani Reyes-Acosta & Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada

In Episode 97 of the Almost There Adventure Podcast, hosts Saveria Tilden, Jeff Hester, and Jason Fitzpatrick welcome filmmakers, mountain athletes, and community builders Dani Reyes-Acosta and Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada for a powerful conversation about their latest project in the Outlier film series: OUTLIER: Common.

This episode explores friendship, identity, splitboarding and ski mountaineering, big mountain visuals, and—yes—jumping in alpine lakes. Dani and Vanessa share how they found one another in the outdoor community, why representation in mountain sports matters, and how their personal stories helped shape a documentary rooted in belonging, community, and cultural reclamation.

We get into backcountry adventures, filmmaking that uplifts BIPOC creatives, the costs & ethics of outdoor storytelling, and why curiosity might be one of the most radical tools we have in turbulent times.

If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in the outdoor world, this episode is a deep breath of recognition.