Emmett Ferra hails from Wagontown, Pennsylvania, by way of Los Angeles. Ferra describes his family as “Reverse Hibillies,” who fled the glitz and glamour of Tinselytown to literally seek out greener pastors in the countryside, more than 90 minutes from a major metropolis. Ferra’s journey, ironically, still somehow led him to the film industry, after a brief stint in Corporate America. Now, as a documentarian, he’s passionate about human-centered narratives and seeks to tell the underrepresented stories of emerging artists and creatives, as they pursue their dreams.

Caleaf “Big Leaf” Sellers is one of the original founders of Dance Fusion, a dance crew founded in 1997 in NYC and has been instrumental in spreading House dance culture worldwide. With its roots in early hip hop and its focus on mutual respect and admiration rather than competition, House dance encourages freedom of expression, connection with oneself and others, and understanding where the movement comes from authentically.

Charlie Visconage is the most unconventional of creatives: a D.C.-based, self-taught multidisciplinary artist, whose artwork is fueled by psychedelics, an insatiable yearning to translate (and transmit) his unique interpretation of reality and the human experience, (oh) and “the fun and art direction of Pee Wee’s Playhouse.” Many are drawn in by his fusion of neon colors (think bright pinks, brilliant blues, intoxicating yellows, intense reds, and vivid oranges) and provoked by his raw emotion. Each piece is reminiscent of a fever dream (but that’s the point). His art is a spilling out of complex feelings — part comedic, part darkness, fully human.

A group of Greek climbers with years of experience decide to take on Island Peak, a trekking peak that is accessible from the popular Everest Base Camp trekking route. They document their journey, from the training leading up to the expedition to the final summit. Despite the many challenges they face along the way, they reach the top of the peak and return safely to base camp. The expedition is a success, and they learn lessons that can be applied to all aspects of life.

There is one phrase that was most striking when interviewing Andy Ricker that is unmistakably at the core of his guiding principles. “Sometimes you gotta buy the beer” is fundamental to how he travels and undoubtedly what led him to discover Thai cuisine

In aviation, a field where the odds, resources and bias (unconscious and overt) are stacked against them, Carrie Zimmerman and Jennifer Aupke have thrived. For years, Zimmerman and Aupke suffered in silence, while never relenting in the pursuit of their dreams. And what started as a casual, poolside conversation between two pilots — one for the United States Air Force, another NASA — trading stories became a call-to-action.

32-year-old Norwegian rock climber Mari Augusta Salvesen smashed expectations when she flashed one of the most infamous crack-climbing routes in the world this year. In a sport overwhelmingly dominated by men, Salvesen’s consistent strength, determination, and undeniable success help carve out a wider space for women in the climbing community worldwide.

Is it possible that we have become too specialized in our thinking when it comes to movement and pain? Helen Hall, biomechanics analyst, runner, author and coach, believes so. In her 30+ years of experience helping people overcome injuries and pain, she has found that looking at the whole body is key. Using the world's most advanced gait analysis tech, DORIS (Dynamic Oriented Rehabilitative Integrated System), Helen is able to objectively measure joint movement and help people rediscover enjoyment in movement.

Gabriela Campos, born and raised in Sante Fe, New Mexico, began cultivating her photography skills in high school and her camera is now a vehicle for telling powerful visual stories, building community, connecting with strangers and showcasing the people and stunning natural beauty of her home state.

Themistocles Lambridis, a film director, adventure seeker, and founder of The Thing About Greece, discusses how Greece is so much more than a summer getaway.

In March 2015, STREETMEETDC started as a small assemblage of photographers. Today, it’s blossomed into a flourishing enclave of photographers and models who come together each month, using every corner of the DMV as a backdrop to create art.

Running has great utility: it promotes fitness, therapy — of the mind and body — and often builds community. Though, strip away the routine, rhythm, metrics, monotony and you often discover a deeper purpose. For unlikely distance runner Alex Takacs, its purpose is both ritual and remembrance.

In 1907, the creation of Jasper National Park initiated legislation to remove any private landowners in the area of the new park. Six well-documented Indigenous families, some who had homesteaded here for over a century, were suddenly deemed squatters, their guns and other means of hunting were confiscated, and the families were forced to leave home. But the resilience of the Mountain Métis people is strong – and their story doesn’t end there.

In August 1914, the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–16) left England under explorer Ernest Shackleton’s leadership. He planned to cross Antarctica from a base on the Weddell Sea to McMurdo Sound via the South Pole, but the expedition ship HMS Endurance was trapped in ice off the Caird coast and drifted for ten months before being crushed in the pack ice.

Magnificent Mount Everest or as called by Tibetan’s mount “Qomolangma” as that name comes up due to them seeing something special. Among the elevated landmark they knew, this one always wore a ‘white scarf’ & since Tibetans have an ancient custom of giving each other a present of the white scarf as a sign of respect, which they call ‘kata’. So, they named the famous mountain Qomolangma, “Goddess Mother of the Wind”.

The 28-year-old took the rock climbing world by storm at an early age and has grown into one of the sport’s most famous faces, traveling the world and completing over thirty first-female ascents. However, she has not been without her controversy or conflict.

If there is any silver lining to the effects of the pandemic, it is that many people have found the time and the opportunity to tap into brilliance and ingenuity that otherwise might have gone overlooked. In the case of Andrea Ponti, it offered him what he craves most, a problem to be solved. 

Sometimes the greatest journeys are not the ones out into the world but rather a hard look inwards at who we are and who we want to become. 

HEX teamed up with Natalie Amrossi, Shauna Wade, Elise Swopes, Claire Lejeune, and Enkrypt Los Angeles to create the series and showcase a different perspective in an often male-dominated field.

Culturelines Print Issue II - The Revolution Issue - Available Now

Abby Cooper gets real about the creation of Split Social and some silver linings of the pandemic

Always with the outdoor playground within an arm's reach, Megan Michelson sought out to be a journalist. Led by experience and an undying passion to be outside on the slopes and trail, Michelson rose through the ranks within the coveted outdoor industry be one of the most sought after journalists.

Writer Kate Erwin profiles Rebecca "Bexx" Ferri and Strong Back, Soft Front, a photography series dedicated to strong, brave and courageous Womxn* (*trans & cis, non-binary & 2-Spirit)

She's Italian, but if you get the chance to meet Sonia, for the love of all good things don’t say capiche.

ARTILECT Design Director and Board Enthusiast, Erica Tess, a Boulder native, fuels her design process by putting experience and the environment as a top priority, leading her design philosophy. And as the days push forward and ARTILECT continues to take shape, it will always be the experiences in life, sport, and design that push Tess and her designs to the next level.

Arrian Yves Wheeler (“AY”) is a Boulder, Colorado-based artist, entrepreneur and all around cool dude. He’s always got something new cooking, and his artwork - using Bavarian crystal and simian to create massive, stunning paintings - is a passion that’s recently been taking off.

Alex Zabelin, editor-in-chief of TECHUNTER Magazine and CEO of TECHUNTER Media, drops some science about the past and future of technical apparel.

Joel Hartter is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Masters of the Environment professional graduate degree program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Joel is a National Geographic Explorer, and for the last 20 years has worked as a researcher, consultant, engineer, and educator focused on sustainability and resilience.

Experiencing the art by Evan Hecox could be described as having a moment of zen on a trip - when something that you’d walk right by in your everyday life instead makes you stop, take it in, look at the lines, shapes and colors, and really think about it for a moment. It might be a building, a motorcycle, a mountain, a house - but whatever it is, a snapshot is clearly imprinted in your mind.

Culturelines contributing editor Amani King, creative director of Avocados and Coconuts, spoke with Ari Robey-Lawrence, Eric Douglas Porter, Darice Jones, Chris McWayne, Adachi Pimentel and Khalil Anthony Peebles from the wood // work collective.