Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha McDarris
Hi Alisha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since my fist trip overseas in high school I’ve loved to travel. But before I was traveling, before I could even walk, my parents were priming me for a deep and abiding love of the outdoors. There are photos of me in child-carrier backpacks and bike trailers, camping and hiking from near infancy. Then my dad took me on my first backpacking trip when I was about 10 and that was it for me. Sure, I spent a few years in high school pretending I was too cool to do that sort of thing (I was definitely not “too cool” for anything, lol), but when I returned to the outdoors, it was with a vengeance, and when I realized one of my favorite things about traveling was enjoying the natural places and spaces in new destinations, well, focusing on sharing that miraculousness and beauty with others and encouraging them to get out there and do the same just felt natural. So Terradrift was born. It may have started as a travel blog, but as a journalist, I wanted to dig deeper, tell important stories, and help others figure out how to experience the transformative power of nature (nature therapy is for real, yo!). So I pivoted. But again, talking about where to go hiking and how to pack for a backpacking trip wasn’t enough (although I definitely do that, too); I wanted to talk about sustainability, climate change, veganism, the outdoors, and what they all have to do with each other (everything, FYI). And it didn’t seem like too many other bloggers or journalists were covering the intersection of sustainability and the outdoors, so I dug my heels in and defined my niche: Terradrift would be all about encouraging people to get outside more and doing so responsibly, safely, and sustainably. My husband, Josh, joined me on the mission, and together, we spend our days reviewing outdoor gear, producing videos on how to tie your shoes and poop in the woods (yes, there is absolutely a wrong and right way), and what the heck micro plastics are and what they have to do with synthetic materials. I write about the brands making huge and innovative strides when it comes to sustainable manufacturing, how to spot greenwashing in the outdoor industry, and yes, how to pack for a backpacking trip, plus vegan backpacking recipes, great places at home and abroad to go hiking, and how to try crazy sports like ice climbing. Because I want everybody to experience the magic of nature. Because when you care about something, you protect it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Heck, no, it hasn’t been a smooth road! Possibly because, If I know anything about myself, it’s that I love doing things the hard way. Would it have been easier to go to school for journalism or business rather than take 5 years to figure it out on my own? Maybe. Would it have been easier to pay someone to do all my marketing and design instead of spending months learning all about SEO? Probably. But would I have felt the satisfaction of building this thing that I love with my own two hands (and very spazzy brain)? Unlikely. It’s been years of long hours in front of a computer screen learning not only how to do what I want to do but how to make a living at it, having no concept of healthy work hours, and stressing over not only whether I’m doing it right, but am I doing the right thing. I’ve felt lost wondering if I would ever turn this into the kind of business or brand that I dreamed it would be, confused about how to actually make it happen, jealous of others who seemed to “make it” so quickly and easily, and discouraged that I just wasn’t good enough or smart enough. But the great thing about working in the outdoor industry is that the woods and trails are always there for you when you need a hard reset. And it’s hard to complain when your job is, quite literally, to go camping this week so you can test out a bunch of new gear.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a journalist and photographer. And “blogger” would be an accurate label, I suppose, but I don’t tend to use it as much, simply because many bloggers aren’t also journalists. But I think my background in journalism is what makes my approach to writing and photography for Terradrift unique. I want to know the how and why behind a story, not just share my own experiences. So I like to think I’m known for my journalistic and in-depth approach to sustainability and the outdoors. My analytical mind needs a “why” in oder to learn and change and grow, and I assume others need that, too. So that sets Terradrift content apart. That, and I’m a vegan, which isn’t as common as you might think in the outdoor industry. A vegan perspective is quite novel for a lot of folks. Plus, I’m hella snarky and sarcastic, so I find a way to make any subject entertaining! But picking something I’m most proud of is tricky. I’m proud of something new every day. I’m proud of creating a brand people recognize (even if it’s not that many people, lol). I’m proud that I’m encouraging people to consider how their actions and purchases affect the outdoors they love and enjoy. I’m proud that I’ve built this thing from scratch and never gave up when it wasn’t as easy as others made it seem (liars!). And I’m proud every time someone messages me to ask for my advice on what vegan hiking boots they should get or what trail at Big Bend is good for beginners or tells me they never knew the down or leather industries were so harmful to the environment. I’m not the only one out there with a voice, of course, but I do get warm fuzzies when mine was able to help someone get outside and do so more sustainably.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
No one is an island in business. I mean, I’m kind of a loner (an extraverted loner, but a loner nonetheless), so if I could have done it I would have, lol. But from the beginning, my husband Josh had a hand in building Terradrift (as a baller web designer). I call him my co-founder even if I was the one creating all the content in the beginning. Because he was always there to bounce ideas off of and dream with. But now, as video producer, he’s a solid half of what we do at Terradrift. Because I’ll be honest, I don’t have the patience to edit the amount of videos we shoot in addition to writing all the articles and editing all the photos. And he’s still our baller web designer and we still bounce ideas off each other and dream and spend most of our hiking and camping time planning and brainstorming for how to be better and grow bigger and get more people outside and caring about sustainability. Many others have played a part, too, including friends and fellow journalists. And frankly, ATX Vegans founder and friend Britty Hamby is always so supportive and present it’s disgusting (in the best way, obviously), and she deserves all the shout-outs. Countless lunches and evening events have been spent bouncing between personal stories and pleading for advice because she is a confident force when it comes to marketing and business and I frequently hear myself asking alone in an empty room, “What would Britty do in this situation?.” She’s always reminding me that I and my business are worth more than I think.
Contact Info:
- Email: alisha@terradrift.com
- Website: https://terradrift.com
- Instagram: @terradrift
- Facebook: @terradrift
- Twitter: @terradrift
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/terradrift
Image Credits
Photos by Alisha McDarris and Josh McDarris
