Episode 186: Behind the Mississippi: Filmmaking Adventure Partners with Alex Maier & Amy Robin
“When you explore the wilderness, you take a look within and... you can’t really live unless you struggle. You can’t appreciate the little things if you haven’t struggled.”
This week, we're honored to welcome Alex Maier and Amy Robin, the creative force behind Wilderness Mindset, a Montana-based outdoor filmmaking company devoted to nature-inspired storytelling. What began as a deeply personal journey on the Continental Divide Trail has evolved into something far greater—a mission to capture the transformative power of wilderness through the lens of a camera.
Alex and Amy take us on a journey through their transformation from individual adventurers to filmmaking partners documenting others' epic quests. Amy describes that pivotal moment when she nervously texted Alex about hiking the CDT together to create a mental health documentary—a question that would change both their lives. That initial leap of faith sparked what would become a lifelong partnership, both personal and professional, centered around the belief that when we explore the wilderness, we take a look within ourselves.
In this episode, we explore the profound philosophy behind Wilderness Mindset, the challenges of building a passion-based business from scratch, and how their work on the Mississippi Speed Record documentary revealed the shared belief system among adventurers. Join us for a deep and moving conversation about finding purpose through nature, the courage it takes to look within, embracing synchronicity as a guide, and what it truly means to stay wild.
Scott and Alex & Amy also discuss:
00:27 Meet the Wilderness Filmmakers
00:39 The Mississippi Speed Record Documentary
01:00 Founding Wilderness Mindset
02:01 Behind the Scenes of Wilderness Filmmaking
03:36 The Continental Divide Trail Journey
04:29 Amy's Personal Struggles and Healing
14:02 Lessons from the Trail
18:20 The Birth of Wilderness Mindset
24:22 The Concept of Wilderness Mindset
27:48 The Introspection of Wilderness Adventures
28:24 Intentions in Nature: Lessons from the CDT
30:39 Filmmaking and Capturing Authentic Adventures
35:56 The Mississippi Speed Record Experience
43:12 Building a Passion-Based Business
47:58 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers and Entrepreneurs
51:30 Hollywood Dreams and Final Thoughts
You can learn more about Alex & Amy by following them on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and visiting their website WildernessMindset.com.
See below for photos Alex & Amy shared from travels and life...
Watch the Full Behind The Scenes Episode
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