Paddy O’Connell (but you can call him PaddyO) works in the outdoor industry as a word nerd and a professional chit chatter—which essentially means he is a freelance writer, creator, storyteller, voice over talent, and multimedia producer. He is based out of Carbondale, Colorado. Check out his latest work and current haps at www.paddyroc.com.
Published
Frontman Dave Simonett is bringing his nature-inspired music to the Outside Festival
From “conquering” peaks to “owning” slopes, ski culture’s language shapes how we see the mountains. Here’s why it’s time for a change.
The man who coined the term "microadventure" in 2011 looks back on his favorite tiny, big experiences
During a particularly difficult mission, the search and rescue volunteer found resolve in her team members
The stand-up comedian and wildlife biologist taught a kid to fish and netted his own lesson in return
On an fishing adventure with other Black men, the journalist realized that sharing his experience could create opportunities for others
After she quit a stable career to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist, she realized she needed a big break—and found one in the middle of the Indian Ocean
The outdoor-recreation professional thought he could get through cancer on his own. A week of surfing and climbing with new friends showed him otherwise.
The professional skier found his life’s work in the joy of others
When it comes to advocating for adaptive athletes, the climber and National Park Service employee will never hold back
A powerful experience in the mountains showed the Native athlete that some things will never be understood
Completing a winter journey on the Appalachian Trail convinced the fun-loving thru-hiker that he can accomplish whatever he dreams up
When the love of her life died in the mountains, the pro skier learned that navigating loss meant accepting that things will be messy
During a climbing trip in Greece, the adaptive athlete saw the possibility for shared experiences that can truly change our way of thinking
Losing her dad on 9/11 led to years of struggle. Then the skier reconnected with the happiness he’d given her by hauling ass down a mountain.
When the outdoor writer organized a long-distance bike trip for her struggling brother, she learned the value of sharing things that bring us joy
The creative was a reluctant runner until he realized that telling himself stories could get him through any distance—and help him be the person he wants to be
A run-in with law enforcement when he was a college student spurred the Native activist to build an organization around the idea that we have to show up for each other
The elite ski mountaineer was struggling mightily on an expedition. To get through it, he would have to get out of his own way.
To get through the pain of losing her partner, the professional snowboarder embraces what frightens her most
As a professional leisure athlete, Katie Burrell has a lot of advice—listen up
In the new film ‘Thirteen Lives,’ the Hollywood A-lister plays Rick Stanton, the British diver who helped lead the effort to save 12 boys and their coach who were trapped in Thailand’s Tham Luang cave